Personal Statement.

So I'd like to think that writing comes pretty naturally to me, however my recent travails with my personal statement have been anything but fluid.

The other day I talked with my former attending on inpatient psychiatry to set up a time to talk about the glowing letter of recommendation (as he calls) it that he's writing for me. As such I offered a draft of my CV and Personal Statement. Having written a good half dozen versions of the same thing I thought it would be easier than moral-voters. But, gasp, I had trouble. Imagine that

Granted I'm still pretty new to my new love of psychiatry, but still. The question of why do you love something is difficult to package compassionate and cohesively in a page and a half. Is it my love of allegory vis-à-vis my James Baldwin/Ralph Ellison obsession, or is it the infinite shades of a pragmatic gray? Perhaps its because of my desire to fill a grand need for African-Americans in healthcare. Or maybe I like to vacation and sit during the day.

In any case, translating my nebulous thoughts, desires, motivation, and intrigue in 12 font is hard. Maybe I'll put a copy up in a bit when I feel its organization is less embarrassing. In any case, now that the fourth year medical students are now MDs this whole process of applying for residency has become a more tangible and equally frightening. Think global warming just after Katrina and Rita. Hopefully there will be a lot less stress though.