Montréal, January 15, 2018 At the admissions committee, deciding to apply to a medical school abroad was not a decision I made lightly. Although studying medicine has been at the forefront of my mind since I was very young, I had to think long and hard before deciding to apply. During my adolescence, growing up in Lebanon, I had the opportunity to see the work of Doctors Without Borders on the ground in rural towns along the border. Due to political instabilities, these cities remained locked in a state of war long after the end of the Lebanese Civil War. The infrastructure was dilapidated and medical services did not exist, people relied on foreign volunteer doctors. Seeing doctors in such a bare environment do their best to uphold the Hippocratic Oath was a turning point. Advocacy and volunteering have been integral in shaping the person I am today. I started out as a female guide where equality, compassion and respect for nature were all key to becoming a responsible member of the community. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Later, during my degree, the core values ​​I gleaned from the guides, were translated into student society involvement on campus, volunteering at the children's cancer center of Lebanon and culminated in the co-founding of a food bank association in Lebanon called Stand by Me. I believe that to be an effective member of the community you need to be involved, that's why when I moved to Montreal, I joined the Montreal Red Cross chapter. Furthermore, I took part in the electoral campaign of the “Projet Montréal”, to contribute to the election of the first female mayor in the history of Montréal. My motivation has never wavered in doing my best to help others, standing up for what I know is right, and using my voice and actions to bring about change around me. The medical profession is tough and you need to be realistic in your expectations. It is not a 9 to 5 job, nor is it as glamorous as it is portrayed in the media or as perceived by the general public as an endless source of money. I know the path to a medical career is long and difficult, and the long hours and responsibilities can be both physically and emotionally taxing, but the lifelong learning and challenging experiences make it a fulfilling vocation. For my master's project, I hoped to do this in a clinical setting. I met the chair of the department, after discussing my scientific interests and aspirations, he suggested that I carry out my project under the direction of Dr. Litalien, professor of the department and emergency room doctor at the Sainte Justine Children's Hospital. This project has been the most rewarding learning experience. Working in a hospital setting alongside a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and laboratory technicians, highlighted the diversity and variety of the medical field, as well as the motivation and dedication to providing the best patient care. I found myself faced with the unpleasant side of medicine: suffering and death. But seeing the medical team at Sainte Justine Children's Hospital highlighted the importance of empathy and a personalized approach when providing treatment. They truly embodied in their work care for the emotional and physical well-being of their patients, a lifelong lesson that I hope to always follow. My educational journey has been bumpy to say the least, I have.