Communication
Throughout my whole life I have enjoyed helping others. It started with helping my mom set the table at every dinner or taking the dog out when my sisters did not want to. At school, I realized that some of my friends weren’t understanding the English lesson, or how to divide and multiply in math, so I would help them too. I would show them the way I think about a problem and how I work through it. Sometimes my friends understood, other times not, and so I would try to explain it in a different way. Through those experiences my communication skills grew, as did my dream to become a Physician Assistant.
In high school I did the same thing; try to explain certain work problems in different ways in order for my friends to understand the concept. I also got my first job in high school, where I was face-to-face with customers everyday. They would come in and look at our large, and oftentimes complicated, menu which then I would try to explain in simpler ways. I loved talking with customers and giving my suggestions, and my experience at Da’Bayou helped me improve my communication skills.
Now that I am a student at the University of Arkansas I need to be able to write effective emails to professors, make connections with my peers, and in the future, impress graduate school interviewers. Because I wish to become a PA, I have to have strong communication skills. These skills are imperative to working with patients in order to assess and assign a diagnosis, and to explain the diagnosis in a respectful and compassionate manner.
Time Management
Time management skills are necessary for every profession, but especially for my future career as a Physician Assistant. As a PA you are expected to manage hundreds of patients and everything that comes with it such as: tests, follow-ups, referrals, etc. I have learned how to be organized and manage my time wisely by taking rigorous courses in high school and college.
My parents have always expected me to make good grades and take hard classes, but they left it up to me to do what is necessary to make that happen. At the beginning of high school I was a big procrastinator and it reflected in my grades. Being surrounded by intelligent friends who always made the best grades in higher-level classes, I started to feel less-than. I had to take it upon myself to improve my study habits.
Now that I am in college I am extremely grateful for the self-control and accountability that I practiced in high-school. Not only did I take and pass numerous AP (Advanced Placement) courses, but I was able to receive multiple scholarships because of my academics. Knowing how to distribute my time wisely and being organized has been imperative to my success at the University as well. I am confident that I will be a punctual and effective physician due to my time-management skills.