Psychiatry Personal Statement

When I was a child I had no notions of becoming a doctor; my favorite toy wasn’t a red, plastic stethoscope, but perhaps the fact that I did not discover Psychiatry until clinical rotations I immediately realized its amazing potential and felt a sense of connection. Not only have I always loved talking to people, but I am a natural listener and often, in even seemingly casual conversations, have heard subtle changes in voice that have led me to believe that this person was troubled despite being enthusiastically engaged and firmly believing no one could see their inner pain. When I realized that the core of this specialty required fine-tuned communicative abilities in tandem with a wealth of specialized knowledge to deal with the gamut of mental disorders and to sympathetically yet professionally demonstrate that you are only seeking to help, I knew then that I was meant to become a psychiatrist. Psychiatry is about understanding patients at their deepest levels and, in that every patient brings their own unique challenges, I know it will lead to a professional life of ongoing growth allowing me to become increasingly more effective in treatment. …show more content…
While still in medical school, I oversaw the treatment of a man who had had lost any semblance of self-care and was markedly antisocial. I still remember his initial disheveled appearance and evident paranoia as he would not speak a word to a soul, but recoiled in fear and confusion and slept all day. At that time, sincerely thinking that he would not be able to return to any role in society, he was discharged. Two months later, I saw him well dressed in the hospital lobby, exuding an air of confidence. Without hesitation he walked up to me with a welcoming: “Hello, Doctor.” At that moment, I realized the role I had a played in this man's