Kennedy Roseborough submitted 2020-03-20
Without emergency medical care, I would not be here writing this essay. When I was seven years old, I was in a life-threatening accident. A five-foot garden rod impaled me between the corner of my right eye and the frontal lobe of my brain. Surgeons at the medical center I was taken to performed a craniectomy to remove the garden rod as carefully and accurately as possible. I was not expected to make it off of the operating table, but after being in a medically induced coma for over a week I woke up on my own. I have always been a fighter, and I plan to bring that same resilience to my intended field of choice which is radiation therapy.
I chose to pursue radiation therapy because I have a passion for helping others, which I believe this will ultimately help me reach my goal of making a positive impact in the lives of the patients I aspire to treat. An important part of being most effective as a radiation therapist is to have a clear understanding of the complexities and challenges cancer presents. Being aware of this will enhance my performance in this specific program. I’ve seen firsthand the devastation cancer causes not only to the patient’s body, but to the people close to them as well. I want to be an integral part of finding a solution and learn how to provide the best care and most innovative treatment for each and every patient. One way to do that is to continue to study and understand how cancer works.
Joy Ann Holman has been a role model to my mother who is a role model to me, and I am very blessed to have known her before she passed away of uterine cancer in July of 2018. She was one of the hardest people I have ever known and is one of the reasons why I am so passionate with whatever it is that I do. I am excited to be in the radiation therapy program because while Joy battled cancer, the therapists were there for her by her side every step of the way. This is important because if it wasn’t for them, her light that she brought never dimmed while she was in pain. I want to be on a team of individuals who not only treat those who have a disease that may be life-threatening, but who are also a support system for the patients they treat similar to hers. Not only did her radiation therapists help motivate her through her treatment process, but they also guided her every step of the way.
I believe that one of the reasons why I am mentally prepared for this type of work is because I also was on the receiving end of life saving medical treatment, similar to the patients I will be working with. I know some of the challenges patients face when a long future isn’t promised, and I want to provide as much courage to them as I possibly can.
The same way I fought and overcame challenges, they can too. Although I do still face challenges as they are inevitable, the difference is that I’m no longer afraid to face them. Technology is constantly evolving and improving, but it will always be crucial to have highly qualified medical professionals involved in and educated with the tasks required to administer the treatment accurately. The team that provided treatment during the time of my accident were knowledgeable, caring, and experienced which contributed to my passion for being in the medical field and overcoming the loss of sight in my right eye.
I aim to bring that same skill, diligence, compassion, positivity, and inspiration to working with cancer patients. My goal after receiving my degree is to become a radiation therapist, however I may eventually continue my education even further. The knowledge and experience I obtain in my current program along with that I already possess will allow me to get to know my patients and provide the hands-on customized care, support, and knowledge I know they deserve and can appreciate.
Not only do my personal experiences help me prepare for treating patients, but also the thought of my ability to use all of the training I have obtained to attempt to save a life in itself will help me push through whatever challenges or pain I may face. I have always been a giver, and I am a natural empath. I thrive off of attempting to make others come to their full potential, and I believe that this will enhance my work performance in the medical field.