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1999 Essay Contest Winner

Mr. Darshana Sinakumaran (750-6-49)

As a witness of a bloody civil war in my homeland, I soon came to see the importance and necessity of quality physicians. Every now and then I hear reports of the mass casualties and injuries from my beloved country. During my brief time period there, I would often accompany my grandfather, who was a physician, to the general hospital, where he provided first aid relief. Although the conditions were grim and the stench was unbearable, I was able to feel the joy when my grandfather healed a patient. Often his simple presence in a room would enliven otherwise depressed patients. So as a child I quickly came to the conclusion that medicine was not only my calling, but my duty. Through my first hand experience, an extraordinary sense of responsibility to provide aid has been instilled in myself.

I have always fantasized of one day returning to this third world country as a physician, and helping those truly in need. If this dream does not materialize, I would love to practice in an urban area, therefore satisfying my desire to care for those in the most impoverished situations. Here, I plan to begin a family practice so that I may treat a variety of patients, each with their own special case.

Medicine in general, and especially family practice, enables me to witness one of the most perplexing phenomena in the world: people. What intrigues me is the variations in peoples' lives and the vast backgrounds from which they come; the knowledge each individual possesses is quite unlike any other. This knowledge helps me put together the pieces in the puzzle of life. For this reason, I make use of my class time, social conversations, and free time to receive answers to the questions I am looking for, whether they be academic or personal. Although my puzzle may never be complete, I will always strive everyday to do the best I can, accumulating as many pieces as I can on the way. As a physician, I may explore this intricate web of people, each with their own piece of the puzzle, and as a result, further expanding my knowledge of the human race.

As I have matured, my hopes of becoming a physician, rooting from my childhood experiences, have been enriched through volunteerism and medical programs.

I have provided my services to local hospitals as well as abroad in the United Kingdom, where I cared for patients with mental and physical disabilities. In addition, I have been selected to attend such medical programs as the Texas A&M medical enrichment program, Baylor medical/leadership explorers, and the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine, These programs have not only provided great insight on the medical profession, but have further inspired me to become a physician.

As children, we often dream of caped-crusaders such a Batman and Superman, who used their superhuman powers to save lives. Likewise, I envision a more realistic super hero with similar magical healing powers, who appears under a white cape. And someday I see myself becoming this supernatural hero.

copyright 1999 MERF

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