Personal Statement

Personal Statement

Moaad

Personal Statement

In my younger age, I was not confident about what I wanted to be. But when I was in grade 12 and during the Libyan revolution in 2011, I lost some of my classmates in the civil war. I was heartbroken, which misled me into thinking that I could not achieve something substantial in my future. Many people will agree that losing a close friend is not an easy situation to cope with. One day, when my father and I were driving home, we heard on the radio that there is an urgent need for blood in hospitals nearby. We immediately rushed to the hospital to donate blood. As we entered the hospital, I noticed young people of my age and younger who were facing serious injuries that were causing lots of blood to discharge. I decided to prolong my stay in the hospital and help the medical teams as the hospital was facing a shortage of staff members. I did not have any medical background, but I was confident that I could take action and support people who are in need. I was taught how to do first aid during my stay, so I could continue to volunteer and help. I continued volunteering my services to that hospital during the summer of 2011, and this experience helped me decide that I want to become a doctor.

This experience changed my life completely. Volunteering there was a completely different experience than broadened my experience and helped me proceed further in this profession. From there on, I became very sympathetic to anyone I interact with. I experienced something more positive while interacting with doctors and nurses. Many other people were experiencing the same situation as I was going through. There I met people who were even ready even to donate their organs if anyone requires. I experienced genuineness and observed loyalty with the profession when I saw doctors who were sharing anything confidential. I also experienced mercy by watching the doctor how they were dealing with those who were facing unbearable pain. After this eye-opening experience, I started believing that it is my moral responsibility to dedicate my life and services to people who are in need. This experience developed more respect for doctors in my heart. Keeping this scenario, I finally applied to one of the prestigious medical schools in Libya, which was located in Tripoli. I continued to volunteer in the hospital while in medical school. At the end of my high school period, I was honored as one of Libya’s top ten graduates. It helped me to receive a scholarship to continue my studies at a foreign University. I was happy that I got admitted to an institution that is more competitive and offers the use of advanced technology, which is not available in Libya. From there on, I decided to proceed with my studies in Canada, for which I had to quit the medical school in Libya.

While I was volunteering in Libya, I experienced many life-threatening situations. I was volunteering mainly in the Intensive care unit, which provided the first aid. When I moved to Canada, I started volunteering with St. John Ambulance services as an advanced medical first responder, where I was responsible for dealing with emergencies. I believe, being an emergency responder, it is very crucial for those who are severely injured and need immediate attention. I believe that acting fast and immediately responding to a call is vital in any emergency. I was enchanted by everything which I experienced since the Libyan movement. These experiences forced me to conclude that in the future, I will become a critical care physician, as their work ethics and humbleness inspires me. I have served the first nineteen years in Libya, and I am volunteering here in Canada as well for the last six years. I have settled in both cultures and have learned different lifestyles and languages. I experienced emergencies in Libya, which made my mind to offer my services in Canada to Canadian Blood Services. I am completing my 4th-year thesis in Microbiology, where I am learning critical thinking and troubleshooting. My passion for helping people made me love medicine even more than I did when I was in Libya. The experience which I gained in my undergrad made me experience the world through different angles.

I studied for two years at Mount Allison University and was then transferred to Laurentian University in 2018 to complete my undergrad. Moving between universities taught me different societal cultures and how I can fit myself to these cultures. These experiences made me mentally strong and independent. I learned how to teach myself from scratch, and I precisely planned out my future. Whenever I met any individual, I noticed that each one of them has a different perspective. Watching Libyan doctors who were working round the clock, I got to know how to respect the Sanctity of life. I also learned how I can neglect small things and why I should be serious about life. My decision to be a doctor was related to my real-life experience. My experience around doctors and nurses has inspired me over the years in both Libya and Canada. No other person has played any role in convincing me to become a doctor. I found myself getting attached to this career before I opted for this as my career. The moment I walked into that hospital back in Libya, I felt very connected to the environment. Medicine has become part of my life, and it will continue to be until my last breath.