So, here it goes again. Round 2. Except this time, I have insider knowledge of the procedure and no college to take up my hours.

Spent summer working and volunteering at Worthing Blind Society helping those with visual impairments enjoy craft activities which has been great and makes up for not managing to get the application procedure finished for CTH. Have also managed to get some work experience booked for November with a GP who is an old friend of my Nan’s! Dr Smethurst has very kindly agreed to let me sit in on her practice for a day which I am really looking forward to, but until then revision is my life. Resitting Biology and Psychology exams in January which I have booked and revision has therefore commenced!

Reapplication is done. Have gone for BSMS (again), St. George (again) and Southampton (again)! Except this time I have applied for both A100 (BM5 course) and A102 (BM6) which is an access course. It lasts a year and guarantees a place on the BM5 course. It also only requires CCC which I already have, and is aimed at people from less privileged backgrounds and somewhat odd educational/personal backgrounds, like me!! It seems massively over subscribed as there are 30 places for the 1000 or so applicants but oh well! It’s a back up if January does not go as planned!

As with last time, I will stick in my personal statement as a bit of inspiration for anyone doing this miserable task!

As a mature student, I took the time to find a career that would challenge me, seeking academic rigour in an interpersonal environment with a foundation in science. At 16 I left education due to the financial constraints of independent living. During this time I focussed on what career I really wanted to pursue and gained valuable life experiences. Living independently I have overcome many obstacles, balancing homework and housework, education and earning. Since October 2007 I have worked in Worthing Hospital’s Accident and Emergency department. Performing initial triage allows me to see a range of complaints, familiarise myself with a patient orientated environment and develop an understanding of patient confidentiality. Working in a front line multidisciplinary team also gives me an understanding of how every person plays a vital part in maintaining excellent patient care under pressure.  Being confronted with often traumatic injuries, I learned the value of organ and blood donations and have now become a regular blood donor. In these sessions I learned how blood is taken and preserved before it is used whole or split into its constituents, for example the plasma is used reverse the effects of anti-coagulants.

Returning to college was a challenge I enjoyed and I quickly settled in. Taking contrasting subjects allowed me to grow my research and essay writing skills but also my problem solving and logic. I have taken advantage of every opportunity available, including leading group study in lessons, organising and running revision classes, and coordinating charity events. This helped to hone my leadership skills and taught me how to bring out the best of everyone in teamwork situations. I accepted a place on the BrightMed course last year where I had the privilege to experience anatomy at its best and observed a dissection. During the session I learned how each cadaver is treated with respect, and the importance of body donation. It was fascinating to see the human body in such detail as to be able to identify the cause of death, in this case a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Inspired by this, I initiated a college visit to the Body Worlds exhibition “The Mirror of Time” which explores human development and aging. Being able to see the intricacies of the human body was fascinating, providing a more detailed understanding of different systems and processes such as the circulatory system and foetal development, both topics that I had enjoyed during my Biology studies.

Having volunteered at Worthing Hospital for over two years, I appreciate the often challenging work that comes with treating individuals with individual needs. I have learned that medicine is often not a simple case of diagnosis and treatment as individuals can have unique symptoms. Talking to patients on the wards showed me how much medicine can improve quality of life which I found thoroughly rewarding. This has led me to take up further volunteering at Worthing Society for the Blind, helping those with vision impairment enjoy a range of craft activities. I found it very humbling to see how people adjusted to the loss of their sight but it was inspiring to see how this was overcome and activities such as knitting were still enjoyed. This firsthand experience of making a difference has reinforced my desire to work in a care environment to improve the lives of others.

My experiences have widened my familiarity with differing levels of care of patients with a range of difficulties. I am keen to learn more I have obtained a work experience placement with a GP in November. Through work experience and college I have a developed an understanding of the demands of a medical career both academically and professionally and feel that my experiences have presented me with the potential to flourish in both.