Essay - Reworked

I've spent a lot of time on my essay this week, I think it's ready. Check it out:

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I spent the last eight years working as a systems engineer with a degree in electrical engineering. In the last few years of my engineering career I no longer found my work enjoyable and realized I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life in a career I found unfulfilling. That time in my life was also marked by personal disappointment. My husband and I had hoped to start a family; unfortunately I found that every pregnancy doesn’t have a happy outcome. My passion for having a family was translated into a passion for finding out why I had suffered multiple losses. My doctor, who understood my dissatisfaction with my engineering career, gave me the nudge I needed to consider a career change to the medical field. After a short time of careful consideration I put all my effort toward taking the necessary steps to reach my goal.

I knew that a significant change in career direction would mean further education. Five years ago I would never have considered getting a masters degree. I struggled with the coursework for my electrical engineering degree. In choosing this new career direction I found that I needed to take several courses before applying to a program. As I complete these prerequisites, I’m enjoying my studies more than I ever thought possible.

As part of my patient contact hours I’ve been working as an assistant to the nurse practitioner in the office of my ob/gyn. I’ve also been able to witness first hand how to sensitively care for patients who are in physical and emotional pain. Compassion is a vital element of quality care. My own experiences will influence my approach to providing compassionate care to patients. Although my work in this office setting is very valuable, it is also specialized. Therefore I am in the process of enrolling in basic EMT training. Once completed, I plan to finish my patient contact hours as an EMT. I feel that this broaden my experience and better prepare me for the variety of challenges that your PA program will provide.

Along with my current full course load, patient contact hours and upcoming EMT training, I’m also involved in a workstudy position to inventory my college’s anatomy and physiology lab and a volunteer position at the library tutoring English. I enjoy my volunteering activities because of the opportunity it provides me to give back to the community and I feel that this further prepares me to work in the community after graduation.

I have often been told that things happen for a reason. When I reflect on the pivotal moments in my life I believe each choice led me down a better path. While a career in engineering isn’t for me, it was through this work that I met my husband. Likewise, my misfortunes in trying to start a family have led me to a new crossroads. By becoming a PA I believe I will find life work that will allow me to give myself to others in a way that will be both satisfying and rewarding.

Tests, Snow Days and Grad School Applications, Oh My!

If it weren't for another snow day cancellation today I probably wouldn't be posting. I'm actually pretty bummed out because 2 weeks ago we had a snow day on Wednesday and ended up not having any snow and we got behind in our chemistry lab schedule compared to the Tuesday lab folks. So here we are again, no lab and behind even more.

School is going well, it's a lot busier this semester with 4 classes. I had a test in each last week, so I was pretty frazzled but I thought I did pretty well. I must admit that I'm disappointed with my grades that I have gotten back. Microbiology - 89, and Anatomy and Physiology - 87 with likely extra credit added I might end up with a 93. Statistics was easy - 95. I'm still waiting to get back my chemistry test.

After a hectic week of tests and studying I decided I should look into getting my grad school applications going. It's lucky I did! The school I really want to go to has a long applications window, but they do a rolling admissions. So the earlier you apply the better. It basically means that if someone applies now and gets accepted and then someone else applies in September that's better, they might not get a spot because they're taken up already. The other issue is that they use an online form that has cycle of April to March, so each April they purge all their previous year's data and start fresh. Most colleges' application cycles correspond with this but the school I want overlaps this, so they say get your stuff in my March 1st so it has 4 weeks to process it before the purge or you have to wait until May to apply. So that leaves me a week to get it done! Holy crap!

I was pretty stressed out Sunday night wondering how I was going to pull it off, but it's actually coming together pretty well. I'm waiting for a couple letters of reference, one from my doctor who I've emailed and left a note on his desk but I haven't heard from him. If it wasn't for all this snow I would drive over there and make sure he got my message. I just hope he can get his submitted by Friday evening. I want to hit my submit button by Saturday night if at all possible. Amazingly the NP at the office has already submitted hers, she's the best! She's not that great with computers so I'm really surprised she got hers done first.

I'm still working on my "personal narrative". It's not as long as they allow you for space, but sometimes less is more and all that. I'm not one to add fluff to an essay just to get a certain word count.

So I don't know what to do with myself today. It feels like a waste sort of, but I'm glad I was able to catch up on some sleep. Needless to say I haven't been sleeping well with everything that's on my mind. Once I get the application submitted I hope sleep will follow.

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Here's my personal narrative if you're interested: (any comments or suggestions would be welcomed as well!)

I have a degree in electrical engineering and worked as a systems engineer for eight years before I came to the realization that I didn’t have to spend the rest of my working years feeling unfulfilled. I knew that no worthwhile job would be posted in the classifieds and any that was worthwhile would require going back to school. Coinciding with the last few years of my engineering career were attempts at starting a family, an exciting new chapter in my life. Unfortunately I found that every pregnancy doesn’t have a happy outcome. With these tragedies I formed a solid relationship with my ob/gyn in trying to solve my medical problems. My passion for having a family was translated into a passion for finding out why I couldn’t. My doctor, knowing my dissatisfaction with my work gave me the nudge I needed to consider a career change to the medical field. After a short time of careful consideration I put all my effort toward taking the steps necessary to reach my goal.

If you asked me five years ago if I was interested in getting my masters, I would have given you a resounding no. I didn’t enjoy my courses in getting my electrical engineering degree. Now I’m enjoying school more than I thought possible as I complete my prerequisites. It’s so refreshing to wake up in the morning and be excited for the day ahead.

In the time I’ve spent working in my doctor’s office I’ve been able to witness first hand how to be a health provider, when the news is good and when it’s not. I want to be the kind of provider my doctor was to me. I know how much compassion comes into receiving quality care. I’ve also learned how not to be because of those I’ve encountered who lacked that compassion.

People always say things happen for a reason and I like to think about different crossroads in my life and how things could be so different if I hadn't made the choices I've made. So while a career in engineering isn’t for me, I might not have met my husband otherwise. And if I could help people as a PA then maybe that will be the good that will come of my own misfortune.