Scholarship Essay Entry – Britanee D.

From the time I was little, health has always been a major interest of mine. My mother frequently recounts a story from my childhood when I was watching my big sister make her lunch, and although I was not yet tall enough to reach the kitchen counter, I was questioning “Now where’s your protein?” (Note that I was sort of a small nerdy child and I had probably pushed my thick glasses up my nose as I said that).

I am currently a fourth year Bachelor of Science student with aspirations of pursuing a career in health care. Although undecided, I am very interested in doing my Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. My mother has always been a huge role model and exemplar in my life, and watching her pursue a more natural approach to health has really inspired me. I believe that this is a newly emerging trend in healthcare, where people are seeking healthier lifestyles and more natural alternatives. My education would provide me an opportunity to offer such knowledge and guidance to those in need of it.

Since lifestyle habits in North America have evolved into high caloric fatty diets and lack of exercise, it would be important for me to not only treat people as patients but as students. I would do my best to educate people on how to take control of their own health, placing an emphasis on preventative nutrition and exercise. This would save people from major health concerns later in life enabling them to live their lives unconstrained by illness or disease. 

I believe people don’t want to be sick and helpless, yet sometimes doctor visits can be band-aids for larger concerns that need more time and effort to cure and not simply treat. I would hope to provide people with an alternative service to visiting crowded hospitals and doctors with more patients than allowable time. Of course I am aware that doctors cannot (and should not) be substituted but I would like to be able to provide people with more than just a quick prescription (they can’t even pronounce) and rush out the door.

I feel this would benefit not only the public, but also overworked doctors and a strained healthcare system. Working alongside traditional medicine, my sole interest and intention would be to free people from lifelong health battles providing them with an enriched (and prolonged) quality of life. That’s what making a difference in someone’s life means to me, giving them the ability and time to do whatever it is they love! (aside from eating fatty cheeseburgers of course…).