"Why do you want to be a doctor?"

On Sunday, whilst volunteering at the hospital, I got asked by a lovely old lady I was chatting to, "Why do you want to be a doctor"? This is the most important question for all people applying to medical school, but when I was asked out of the blue, I realised that it is actually a very difficult question to answer! So, I really thought about it and this is why I want to be a doctor...

I first became interested in this career about 3 years ago, when I realised that I was absolutely fascinated with the human body and how it works. So, naturally, the first profession I thought of when I thought of the human body was, of course, a doctor. Now this by itself is a poor excuse to study medicine, but it was not until I started looking into the career and gaining experience, that I really started getting into the idea. I now have a clear idea of what the job of a doctor entails, and I believe I could fill that role perfectly.

Firstly, I enjoy talking to people, whether I know them or not. Being a doctor, not only requires you to talk to patients, but it is also necessary to have good communication skills, so as to ensure the best possible care for your patients.

Having the ability to work in a team is also a skill every doctor should posses, and I believe I do. I play hockey every week with my team, Woodlands Ladies Hockey Club, and have had many team experiences such as, Duke of Edinburgh. However, being a doctor may also require you to take the lead once in a while and through being a Young Leader at Brownies, coaching hockey to younger pupils, being a peer mentor and taking part in both the Buddy Reading and Buddy Science schemes, I feel I have successfully developed good leadership qualities.

All these things might explain why I would be suited to a career in medicine, but do not explain why I WANT TO BE A DOCTOR! It was only on reflection that I realised the answer to this. I have often found myself in situations where someone has been in need of medical help, sometimes more critically than others. In some of these situations I have been able to offer assistance. For example, when a young brownie fell over and face-planted into a stage, I found myself immediately rushing to help her and I am pleased to say, I succeeded in calming her down and stopping the nose bleed that the fall had caused. However, from time to time I have found myself wanting to do more. Last year, I was visiting Chatsworth with my family when I heard screaming for help. Of course, I followed my instincts and ran as fast as I could to the screams. When we arrived, we discovered that an old man on a mobility scooter who had strayed from the path, had come of his scooter, rolled down a hill and landed in the stream at the bottom. I knew that I could not offer help to this man, but I still knew how to help him. We ensured the ambulance and mountain rescue services had been called and then scrambled down the hill, and sat there with him and kept him talking, until more help arrived.

SO! This is the conclusion I have come to. I want to be a doctor because:

· I believe I posses all of the correct skills to become a successful doctor.

· I am very interested in the human body and science in general.

· From being put in situations where someone is in need of help, I have learnt that there is some sort of instincts inside me that always rushes to help the person in need, I do not panic under pressure and that I always want to do more for the person in need, even when I have done all that I can.