My determination to become a doctor was confirmed by my experiences in King's College Hospital's department of Neurosurgery.  During a case where a young patient had fallen from a bridge, suffering a devastating brain injury, I witnessed the difficulty doctors face when sustaining the balance between empathy and clinical detachment.  It was incredibly moving to see members of the multi-disciplinary team come together in the morning handover to maintain morale, and support one another. I was inspired by the focus and effective decision-making skills neurosurgeons displayed whilst under pressure, despite their physical fatigue from operating for long hours. Observing consultants teaching registrars during surgery, I saw the value of teamwork and intergenerational support in a profession that requires such depth of knowledge. I have tried to cultivate these qualities through my roles as a Year 7 Paired Reader, GCSE Maths Tutor, and A Level Chemistry Peer Mentor. 

Struck by the complexity of the human brain, and eager to learn more about medical research, I participated in the DevNeuro Academy programme at King’s College London. My curiosity about epilepsy led me to interview researchers at the Centre of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and I became fascinated by the roles that interneuron dysfunction, and excitation and inhibition imbalance play in this condition. Having studied stem cells in Biology, it was exciting to hear that grafted inhibitory interneuron progenitors could be used as a possible treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy. This had a particular impact on me at the time, as I had seen a pianist with this condition undergo a temporal lobectomy, with the risk of affecting her ability to recognise musical atmosphere and tonal sequences. I was able to draw on these experiences whilst leading a science communications project about the research being conducted at the centre. Although it was nerve-wracking to deliver group presentations to prominent researchers, this greatly improved my confidence.

For the past seven months, I have been volunteering in a care home, where I run arts and crafts activities whilst engaging with residents, many of whom have limited English, and are hard of hearing. Although this has often been challenging, I have learnt to adapt my communication to their needs by speaking clearly and slowly, as well as using gestures and drawings. Seeing how hearing-loss had caused low self-esteem and social withdrawal in the residents urged me to read about potential treatments. I was excited to learn that Gamma Secretase Inhibitors could regenerate cochlear hair cells from supporting cells, and that current clinical trials are evaluating its efficacy. I have enjoyed using my listening skills and knowledge of Farsi to bring comfort to an elderly woman with dementia. Seeing how reading her favourite poetry and painting landscapes together could brighten her week has been truly rewarding. Through this experience, I have learnt the value of humanity in medical care, and the importance of treating patients holistically, rather than as a collection of symptoms. 

As a committed garden volunteer for the past seven years, I have been able to use my problem solving skills to support my local community and ecosystems. It has been enjoyable to encourage depleting populations by planting wildflowers and constructing bird feeders. Through gardening I am able to reflect and relax outside of my studies. 

I relish the blend of human interaction, science and practicality that Medicine offers, and I believe that I have the dedication and commitment to succeed in this fulfilling, yet highly challenging career.