Special Needs Pediatrics

The first time I met Carla, she was sitting on the floor alone in the middle of the lunchroom while the rest of her cabin played outside. Carla was a frizzy-haired 11-year-old girl with autism. It was her first time away from home, and she was struggling to adjust to the new patterns, people, and places. At the same time, as her camp counselor, I was trying desperately to figure out her needs. Carla could not communicate spontaneously, and she responded to my questions only by repeating them. It was difficult helping her transition from one activity to the next, because whenever a game ended, Carla would just flop down on the ground and refuse to budge. I tried singing songs, dancing, and playing "follow the leader, " but nothing uprooted Carla. Then suddenly, after a few days of working with her, I noticed that Carla was fascinated with hands. Although she would not hold people’s hands, she liked to touch them and look at them, and I soon discovered that I could use her interest to motivate her to participate in life around her. For the next two weeks, I transformed my hands into butterfly wings, and the two of us flew around camp together. Although we could not communicate verbally, we found a connection more powerful than conversation, and I discovered how deeply satisfying it is to help other people, particularly those who cannot speak for themselves.

I have dreamed of becoming a physician since childhood, because medicine offers the rare opportunity to combine science and humanism to make a real difference in other people’s lives. I have a longstanding love of science, which led me to major in engineering in college because I enjoyed working on applied scientific questions. Most of my course work and extracurricular activities were science-related, but my interest in medicine solidified, ironically, during the summer when I took my first break from science. During the fall semester of my junior year, I began to feel overwhelmed by conflicting responsibilities in my course work, part-time employment, and various extracurricular activities. I realized that I had spent most of the previous decade enrolled in academic, research, and community service projects to prepare myself for the challenge of medical school, but I had not yet confirmed that aspiration. I tried to focus on what made me happy at the time, and I realized my most beloved experiences occurred while I volunteered at a pre-school with disabled children. Whether I spent my time helping the children swim, reading to them, or simply chasing after them, I always left with the feeling that I had made a small impact on their lives.

I researched camps for children with special needs, and after talking with directors and former counselors at numerous programs, I chose to become a counselor at the Frost Valley YMCA Mainstreaming at Camp program. I started that summer both excited and daunted by what lay ahead. The counselors and directors warned me that the job would be emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausting, but I had no idea what I would encounter. That summer became the hardest and most rewarding time of my life. Every two weeks a new group of children with a wide range of developmental disabilities entered my life and became dependent upon me for almost all of their care. I quickly realized how different each child was and tried to adjust my counseling style to fit their individual needs. Motivating and communicating with children who cannot -- or will not -- reciprocate your efforts requires a great deal of patience and creativity. Working with this special group of children tested me greatly, but I found that the hardest part was saying goodbye at the end of each two-week session.

During my last weeks at Frost Valley, one of my campers, a 19-year-old girl with mental retardation, began having seizures. I recognized her symptoms, but one night her seizures became continuous. We called an ambulance, and I jumped on board so that I could spend the night with her, holding her hand and acting as her medical advocate. Because she looked quite “normal, ” it was difficult for the medical staff to understand that she had the communication skills of a 9-year-old. After I explained her condition several times, however, the staff realized that although Jackie looked “normal, ” she required special care. After a long and scary night, Jackie was released from the hospital and sent back to camp. Fortunately, she recovered completely and was happy and healthy for the rest of her time at camp.

I am sure she will never remember how frightened she was that night -- or even my holding her hand -- but I know I will never forget it. That summer, particularly that night, reaffirmed my desire to become a doctor. I realized how critical it is for medical professional to understand the needs of special populations, to work directly with them and their families. I also understood that I could join my two loves by working as a pediatrician for children with special needs. Caring for a child who cannot tell you what is wrong requires a person with patience, skill, and compassion; it is my dream to become one of those people.

點(diǎn)評(píng)：

這是一篇醫(yī)學(xué)類PS，涉及轉(zhuǎn)專業(yè)。文章段落銜接緊密，思路清晰，內(nèi)容感人，是一篇很好的PS。

文章可以分為四部分：

一、生動(dòng)的經(jīng)歷作為開頭，設(shè)置懸念

二、轉(zhuǎn)專業(yè)的原因

三、大三當(dāng)夏令營的營隊(duì)輔導(dǎo)員的經(jīng)歷

四、總結(jié)和升華自己想成為醫(yī)生的堅(jiān)定信念

從文章的內(nèi)容上來看，作者先通過一個(gè)生動(dòng)具體的經(jīng)歷作鋪墊，設(shè)置一個(gè)懸念，順利地引出第二段自己由一名理科生轉(zhuǎn)而申請(qǐng)兒科學(xué)的原因。然后帶出自己在大三暑假時(shí)當(dāng)夏令營營隊(duì)輔導(dǎo)員的經(jīng)歷。通過對(duì)這段經(jīng)歷中具體案例的敘述，刻畫出自己在此期間的感受和收獲。三、四兩段在素材的選用上做得非常好，既有整體概括性的敘述，又有具體案例的使用，很有說服力。最后一段先總結(jié)上段的描寫，然后呼應(yīng)第一段設(shè)置的懸念，突出自己成為兒科醫(yī)生的堅(jiān)定決心。

因?yàn)槭寝D(zhuǎn)專業(yè)，專業(yè)背景的不足，最大的亮點(diǎn)就是對(duì)專業(yè)的興趣和自己所具有的素質(zhì)特點(diǎn)了。但是作者在整篇文章中沒有空喊口號(hào)，而是通過具體事例的敘述，讓讀者能夠強(qiáng)烈感受到作者對(duì)病人的熱愛，心地的善良，效果非常好。

美中不足的就是作者在三四兩段經(jīng)歷的描寫中沒有將自己的專業(yè)認(rèn)識(shí)體現(xiàn)出來。應(yīng)該通過具有專業(yè)性的語言表現(xiàn)出自己除了興趣之外，在專業(yè)上能力也有成為一名優(yōu)秀兒科醫(yī)生的優(yōu)秀素質(zhì)。

譯文：

特別需求的兒科

當(dāng)其他小朋友在外面歡快的嬉戲時(shí)，我發(fā)現(xiàn)一個(gè)11歲左右卷發(fā)的小姑娘獨(dú)自一人孤獨(dú)的坐在餐廳中間的地板上，非常的孤獨(dú)。她就是卡拉，一個(gè)患自閉癥的女孩。這是她第一次離家在外，她竭盡全力地適應(yīng)她的新伙伴，適應(yīng)這完全陌生的人和地方。作為她的營隊(duì)輔導(dǎo)員，我非常希望能夠幫助她從自閉忠走出來，于是竭盡全力去了解她?？ɡ瓘牟粫?huì)主動(dòng)和其他人交流，對(duì)于我問她的問題，她也從來只是簡(jiǎn)單的重復(fù)，沒有答案。想讓她主動(dòng)地從一項(xiàng)游戲參加到另一項(xiàng)游戲是一件非常困難的事情：因?yàn)闊o論何時(shí)，只要游戲一結(jié)束，卡拉就會(huì)一屁股坐到地上，不想再動(dòng)。我努力的嘗試過讓她唱歌，跳舞，也嘗試過讓她參加“跟隨領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人”這樣的游戲，但是這些手段毫無效果，根本吸引不了她。她就像生了根的樹，動(dòng)也不動(dòng)。但是在經(jīng)過了幾天的努力嘗試和仔細(xì)的觀察，突然有一天，我發(fā)現(xiàn)卡拉對(duì)人們的手非常感興趣，甚至到了著迷的地步。雖然她不會(huì)去握住別人的手，但是她非常喜歡觸摸和觀察人們的手。于是，我立刻意識(shí)到，我可以利用她的這個(gè)興趣來引導(dǎo)和激發(fā)她，讓她去感受她身邊的生活，去融入正常的生活。在接下來的兩個(gè)星期中，我把我的手變成了一雙蝴蝶的翅膀，帶著她愉快地穿梭于營地之中。雖然我們沒有語言上的交流，但是我們兩人之間擁有一個(gè)遠(yuǎn)比語言更強(qiáng)而且有效的交流。與此同時(shí)我也享受著幫助別人，尤其是那些不能夠表達(dá)自己的人所帶來的巨大的快樂和滿足感。

從兒時(shí)起，我一直夢(mèng)想成為一名內(nèi)科醫(yī)生，因?yàn)槲艺J(rèn)為醫(yī)學(xué)是極少數(shù)能夠真正將科學(xué)和人道主義結(jié)合起來，從而改變?nèi)祟惿钯|(zhì)量的手段之一。雖然對(duì)自然科學(xué)極大熱愛，熱衷于運(yùn)用科學(xué)手段解決相關(guān)問題的我，選擇了工程學(xué)作為我的專業(yè)。而且我的絕大多數(shù)課程學(xué)習(xí)和課外活動(dòng)都和理科聯(lián)系非常緊密。但是不可思議的是，在大三的下學(xué)期那個(gè)暑假，理科學(xué)習(xí)過程中的一個(gè)短暫停頓，我把心底埋藏已久的對(duì)醫(yī)學(xué)的巨大興趣釋放了出來，一發(fā)不可收拾。因此我開始感覺到了課程學(xué)習(xí)同我的兼職、課外活動(dòng)之間的巨大沖突，讓我非常矛盾。通過冷靜的思考，我意識(shí)到我之前近十年學(xué)習(xí)、研究和社區(qū)服務(wù)正是幫我準(zhǔn)備著挑戰(zhàn)醫(yī)學(xué)所需要的一切。當(dāng)然，那時(shí)我還沒有最終確認(rèn)這是不是我真正的渴望。于是，我認(rèn)真地思考真正讓我快樂的事情。最后我意識(shí)到，最讓我珍視的就是在幼兒園為殘障兒童志愿服務(wù)的經(jīng)歷。在那段時(shí)間里，無論是教他們游泳，為他們讀書還是和他們玩非常簡(jiǎn)單的追逐游戲，我都能感覺到我對(duì)他們生活的小小沖擊。

夏令營開始前，我詳細(xì)的了解了所有營員的特殊情況。在和眾多項(xiàng)目中的主任和前營隊(duì)輔導(dǎo)員溝通和了解后，我做了“霜谷YMCA主流回歸夏令營”的營隊(duì)輔導(dǎo)員。于是我開始了一個(gè)讓我既興奮同時(shí)也讓我疲憊的夏天。在一開始，那些輔導(dǎo)員和主任就警告我：我的這項(xiàng)工作將會(huì)讓我從心理到生理受到雙重折磨。我當(dāng)時(shí)并不以為然，對(duì)我將會(huì)遇到的困難也毫無思想準(zhǔn)備。所以，那個(gè)夏天是我所度過的最艱難的夏天。但也是我收獲最多的一個(gè)夏天。每?jī)芍?，一個(gè)全新的由各種不同殘障兒童組成的小組就會(huì)走入我的生活。他們幾乎完全要依賴我的照顧。我很快就意識(shí)到他們每個(gè)人有多么的特別，于是我努力根據(jù)每個(gè)人的需要調(diào)整我的輔導(dǎo)方式。我努力的激發(fā)那些不能或者不愿和別人交流的孩子，同他們做細(xì)致的溝通。要想得到他們的積極回應(yīng)是需要極大的耐性和創(chuàng)造力的。在這種特殊的團(tuán)體中工作隊(duì)我來說是個(gè)巨大的挑戰(zhàn)，非常艱難，但是對(duì)我來說，最艱難的不是工作的辛苦，而是在每次夏令營結(jié)束要和他們說再見的時(shí)候。

在霜谷的最后兩個(gè)星期，營里一名19歲的智障營員有出現(xiàn)痙攣的征兆。我便非常留意她的情況。有一天晚上，她出現(xiàn)了持續(xù)痙攣的癥狀。于是，我們立刻叫來了救護(hù)車。我毫不猶豫地跳上了救護(hù)車，這樣，我可以陪她一起度過這個(gè)困難的夜晚。我一直握著她的手就像是她的醫(yī)療顧問。因?yàn)閷?duì)于急救人員來說，他們很難明白這個(gè)看起來極為正常的女孩實(shí)際上只有相當(dāng)于9歲兒童的溝通能力。在我的幾次解釋之下，急救醫(yī)生才開始意識(shí)到：雖然杰姬看起來非常正常，但實(shí)際上她需要特殊對(duì)待。熬過了這個(gè)漫長(zhǎng)而恐怖的長(zhǎng)夜后，杰姬被送回到了營地。幸運(yùn)的是她完全恢復(fù)了，并在夏令營中健康快樂的度過了剩下的時(shí)間。

雖然，我知道她永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)記得她在那個(gè)夜晚有多么的緊張，多么的恐懼，即使我一直緊握著她的手。然而我知道我永遠(yuǎn)無法忘記。在那個(gè)夏天，尤其是那個(gè)夜晚，我堅(jiān)定了成為醫(yī)生的信念。因?yàn)槲疑羁桃庾R(shí)到，對(duì)于醫(yī)療工作者來說徹底了解那些有著特殊需求的病人，從而能夠直接為他們和他們的家庭服務(wù)有多么的重要！我也認(rèn)識(shí)到成為一個(gè)為有特殊需求兒童服務(wù)的兒科醫(yī)生可以讓我把這兩種愛很好的結(jié)合在一起。治療那些不能告訴你他們具體病況的兒童要求醫(yī)生擁有巨大的耐心，出色的技能和超人的激情，而我的目標(biāo)就是成為他們中的一員！