U of U Essay Question (limit your response to 500 words) Shakespeare wrote: "The fool doth think he is wise, but

the wise man knows himself to be a fool". What major lessons have you learned in life and what do you hope to learn in college?

My mother was prepared to last through her third trimester to deliver my twin brother and I. Unfortunately, due to complications in fetal development she went into labor at 24 weeks. My mother was rushed to Akron General Hospital and my brother was born on March 30, 1996 weighing 640 grams (1.41 lbs). Doctors decided to delay my birth to allow additional time for development. Two weeks later on April 14, I was born weighing 720 grams (1.59 lbs). Our birth was a shock to everyone. My family was rendered helpless as doctors searched for solutions. The timing of advancements in neonatal care and pharmaceuticals, however, were the key to our survival. My parents were told we would not survive the first few days, let alone weeks. Never having dealt with a situation like this before, the doctors were left to experiment. Fortunately, a year prior on April 13, 1995, a life changing drug, Dexamethasone, was approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Dexamethasone is a steroid that is injected into the mother and catalyzes lung development in babies. This breakthrough in neonatal care is responsible for the survival of thousands of premature babies including my brother and I. The first few weeks after our birth were undoubtedly the most difficult. However, due to the courageous doctors, nurses, and advancements in modern neonatal medicine, we survived our initial weeks and experienced healthy, happy childhoods. My birth story has been recited so often that, although it is beyond my ability to remember these unique circumstances, it has become a defining factor in my life. It is the driving force for everything I want to achieve in life. Indeed my very existence is owed to the skilled physicians and medical staff at Akron General Hospital. I aspire to raise the level of expectation, just as those doctors did for my family. My personal mission is to impact lives and advance the field of medicine. The circumstances of my birth have caused me to realize the most important lesson, my life a blessing. I firmly believe there is a reason for my existence. I intend on playing my part to make the world a better place. Ultimately, I intend on becoming a biomedical engineer before entering medical school to be certified as an infectious disease physician, where my passion lies and feel I can make the most difference. To achieve my goals, education plays a crucial role. In college I intend to challenge myself and discover how far I can make it. I am a firm believer that one cannot assist others without assisting themselves first. Education and ensuring mastery in both fields is something I intend to do to ensure I am providing the world with my best performance.