Crohn's Disease Personal Statement

When I was seven, I began experiencing extreme weight loss and severe abdominal pain. I stayed in a children’s hospital for two weeks until the doctors were finally able to identify the cause of my symptoms. They diagnosed me with Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is not a well known disease like cancer, heart disease or diabetes, but it currently affects almost two million Americans. These more prevalent diseases have extensive foundations that raise money and awareness for those who endure the condition, but because Crohn’s disease is not as well known, it does not have the same level of funding or support. My life’s goal is to raise money for this cause, and to become a research scientist to help aid in finding a cure to my disease. Over the past nine years I have gone from taking medications four times a day, to only taking it twice a day. This change has allowed me to play field hockey with my friends in the fall, workout in the winter off season, and then jump right back
I enjoy my science classes because they satisfy my curious side. I do not just want to know that the deltoid is the muscle found in the upper arm, I want to know it works because the myosin and actin fibers contract when nerve impulses are sent from the brain. This curiosity is what I believe will help me complete the proper schooling needed to become a research scientist. In the meantime, I can help raise money for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. This is a major foundation that holds 5k walks throughout the United States. I participate annually by forming a team and soliciting sponsors to support my friends and me for the 5k walk. This not only raises money for research, but I also have an enjoyable time racing with my friends, exploring unknown paths, and being in the comforting company of hundreds of other people who have experienced the same