GraduateSchoolPersonalStatement.com
by Dr. Robert Edinger
Helping Applicants Since 2005 
drrobertedinger@gmail.com

Born in the Dominican Republic, my family moved to the USA when I was 14, where I grew up mainly in Rhode Island, along with an older brother and two little sisters. Small business owners, my parents first owned a shoe store for several years and then started a home daycare center that they continue to operate. I earned my BA in Liberal Arts with a minor in Criminology at the Catholic University of Puerto Rico. I chose to attend that program because I was also accepted into the Army ROTC at that university. Earlier, I had attended the University of Rhode Island, where I mainly studied Psychology, and was able to transfer those credits to count towards my BA in Puerto Rico.  While at the University of Rhode Island, I took a literature class that required a lot of writing, receiving an A. I took another literature class in Puerto Rico, receiving an A-. 

 

In my second year of High School, I requested to test out of ESL; by my senior year, all my classes were in English. While it was challenging, I enjoyed the achievement. In ROTC, I graduated 1st in my Battalion out of 52 students. My favorite classes in Puerto Rico were Military Science and History. I very much enjoyed that most of the classes in Puerto Rico were taught in Spanish since this allowed me to polish my first language. Making the Dean’s List was a special honor. I graduated in December of 2008. My GPA from my university classes in both military and science was taken into consideration, along with physical fitness scores and leadership evaluations of field exercise performance. Earning my bachelor's degree and receiving my commission were both great honors and a first for my family.  

 

I joined the Junior ROTC in High School because I am a patriot, anxious to fulfill a civic duty, and a purpose-driven person; serving the military after high school was my central goal. I most enjoyed my military experience, especially the sense of teamwork that it inspired in us all. I did miss my family and familiar surroundings. Nevertheless, the military experience was perfect for me, and I am thankful that it has prepared me for a civilian career in so many ways. I have learned to show compassion and assiduously cultivated this talent. I try never to assume and always be open to trust, verifying when possible. I don’t struggle to lead by example and always show gratitude. This has brought me success thus far as a Supervisor/Manager/Chief of over 50 people directly and over 400 indirectly.  

 

I want to become a chiropractor who is devoted to her patients and always fully transparent. I plan to emphasize the importance of patient education to put my patients fully into the driver’s seat of their treatment. I also look forward to cultivating lines of communication with other professionals, especially when deciding on next-level procedures. Overall, I seek to preach a doctrine of preventive medicine to my patients and anyone else willing to listen. In 5 years, I see myself opening my chiropractic clinic, where I will also promote nutrition and fitness. I look forward to serving my community in this capacity for decades to come. I want to work to increasingly incorporate volunteer outreach into my schedule. This is especially true with veteran communities, particularly those veterans that suffer from PTSD as a result of past deployments. 

 

I look forward to contributing to building and maintaining lines of communication between medical specialties, especially regarding surgeries and prescription medication. My central focus will be on how chiropractic modalities can assist with physical and neurological recovery. I have seen many of my fellow veterans affected by the quick decisions of physicians to perform unnecessary surgeries, in many cases resulting in long-term and sometimes permanent physical disorders or impairments.  Based on my extensive reading on the subject and professional and volunteer experiences, I firmly believe that Chiropractic modalities could have rectified the medical issues of at least many of the veterans that I have come to know without invasive surgical procedures that generally left them in at least as much pain as before the surgery.  

 

Becoming a chiropractor will inspire and enable me to make my most delicate and total contribution to the veteran community. Since I left the military, chiropractic practice has been the most critical factor in my self-care regime. I struggled with back pain, hip pain, and nervous system issues. I have been fortunate to come across great chiropractors who have helped me tremendously with managing my pain without resorting to risky surgery. Because of chiropractors, I can be present for my family. My mental, as well as physical health has improved. For this reason, I want to be part of this community of healers; especially those serving the veteran community. Veterans are in especially great need. I took the responsibility of commanding my soldiers very seriously. Now, I look forward with equal dedication and sincerity to doing all I can to ease the pain and discomfort of ongoing generations of veterans. Chiropractors can be especially beneficial to veterans because they see the whole patient. Medicine in the US has become so compartmentalized. The urologist generally doesn’t know what the cardiologist is doing, and neither knows what the gastroenterologist is doing, for example. Because chiropractors look at the patient in systemic ways, they see the big picture of the challenges that patients face.  

 

Furthermore, I also believe that Chiropractic care cannot only improve health outcomes but, at the same time, may also help reduce costs, especially through the avoidance of pharmaceuticals as much as possible. My background as a Platoon Leader, Logistics Manager, Operations Officer, Medical Officer, Company Commander, and Chief of Medical Logistics/Materiel Branch are all assets that I bring to my new profession as a chiropractor, and I seek to become a leader in my field. I see leaders as coaches and leadership as service. I seek to put my patients first and provide them with the tools to recover. I want to lead by example with the integrity to do what is right even when it is not popular. Being a leader is about listening, inspiring, and empowering. My 10-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter are my chief inspirations. As well traveled as I am read, I always see possibilities rather than obstacles, constantly staying fit by trail running and yoga.  

 

I am especially enthused about enrolling at ____ because of my keen respect for the founders and the history of the chiropractic profession. I share the philosophy embraced and pioneered by the founders that life is intelligent and the human body possesses the ability to heal itself. Finally, I also very much admire their support of our military community through the Military Care Program. I find it particularly noble that your program offers their students clinical rotations at Veterans hospitals.  

 

Thank you for considering my application.