I have wanted to work in medicine ever since my eleven-year-old cousin passed out during my uncle’s birthday party. He suddenly fainted when we were supposed to cut the cake. We rushed to the emergency room. Doctors diagnosed him with blood cancer after a couple of months, which was too late for him to survive. That incident sparked my interest in becoming a physician assistant. I put all my efforts into achieving my goal of working in medicine, which became a reality when I got a chance to work with a physician assistant in a primary care clinic. I was afforded this opportunity because I majored in biology in high school as well as in college. While working at the clinic, I realized that I wanted to become a PA and developed many of the skills necessary to become an effective health care provider.

My personal experience with my family has also been an inspiration for me to become a part of the medical field. Two years ago, my dad had a heart attack and was admitted, eventually having a stent replacement surgery. Despite the surgery, his condition kept on worsening; all his organs stopped working except his brain. He had to be kept on life support for 15 days. It was during my dad’s stay in the hospital that I learned about these life-support systems. I also watched closely how the doctors, PAs, nurses, and technicians interacted with my dad with kindness and care. It was that kind of care that helped my dad recover. This contributed a lot to my desire to work in the medical field. The confidence, hope, and assurance that they gave us that everything would be OK were a great inspiration. Therefore, I want to become a health care worker and help other patients in the way that my father’s treatment team helped him. Working at the front desk and volunteering as a medical assistant during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis has also shown me that I have what it takes to support my community even in hard times. During this COVID-19 pandemic, I have worked as a frontline health care worker and assisted a physician assistant in such difficult times in caring for patients. I had several people giving prayer hands. That happiness on the patients’ faces made me happy and satisfied. Being a source of hope for someone is the most pleasant feeling. I saw a glimmer of hope in their eyes while looking at me. That action brought me to the decision that I want to be a beacon of hope for others and have the desire to alleviate the suffering of patients. No doubt, those crucial days were hard for the whole world.

There have been significant advancements in the health care field over the past 50 years, aiming to reduce patients’ suffering. However, challenges like high drug prices and lack of affordable care still exist. It’s important to continue working towards achieving equitable access to affordable medications and health care for all patients. We have made progress, but there’s still more to be done.

By becoming a PA, I will strengthen my clinical skill sets, broaden my knowledge and expertise, and provide quality care to the patients, no matter who they are. By doing this, I will be able to contribute to the multidisciplinary team of health care providers. I have learned that having clinical knowledge, solid communication skills, and an ethical relationship with patients is a solid foundation in any medical profession. My experiences make me an outstanding physician assistant candidate. My passion for the PA profession, my dedication and perseverance, my current skills and knowledge, and my firm commitment will be of great use to me in caring for my patients.

Mariam Pervaiz is a physician assistant student.