Throughout the first year of school I’ve learned pathognomonic phrases, gold standards, and one defining factor of an impactful PA: human connection. I’m constantly reminded of the essence of medicine through testimonies about patient encounters. Whenever I find myself lost studying, I’m grounded and reminded of the importance of human connection. Medicine is a dynamic field with a commitment to lifelong learning. I struggled through PA school at first as I was overwhelmed. I doubted myself, was I meant to be here? Halfway through my first trimester, the material clicked. We began learning about cardiology and I had experience working at a cardiac center in an underserved community. I vividly recalled a patient waking up altered and the doctor unable to communicate with them due to a language barrier. The patient was anxious and distraught. I did my best to talk with the patient, affirming and reassuring them, and having to convince them in Tagalog to stay in the hospital to get further care. At the time, I had little knowledge on their condition. Now going through the material, learning about the specific presentation, diagnosis, treatment, I reached my moment of clarity. There are patients to treat and the better I understand the diagnoses, the better I can understand them as a whole. I am constantly reminded to not get lost in the semantics of medicine and that there is a person to connect with. The human connection of physician assistants bridges the gap between medicine and empathy. My professor shared his testimony about his mission work in Central America and connecting with a child who had an undiagnosed condition. He was ushered to a small town to meet a child and their family who didn’t speak English. The child was frail; supposedly a toddler but with the physical appearance of an infant. Due to the lack of access to medical care, the parents didn’t name the child as they were expecting them to pass from their condition. With just a stethoscope and his knowledge, he was able to have a presumptive diagnosis and treat the patient. He went straight to a pharmacy and bought the whole stock of medicine for the patient to last a few months until he returned to follow-up. He revisited a few months later with a new supply and found out that the patient was well and now had a name. Growing up in a developing country, the story resonated with me. I vividly recall when I saw children walking barefoot selling gum out of shoe boxes to drivers in traffic. I am reminded of my privilege that my biggest stressor is school. I am also reminded of the responsibility I hold to use my privilege for others. With just a stethoscope in hand, I aspire to be like my professor with his knowledge-base treating patients. Post-graduation I plan to act on my privilege and partner with my local church's community outreach program to serve in downtown LA and to work in an emergency department in an underserved community. I will establish bonds with patients during their tumultuous times; when they need medical care and just someone to talk to. As a future provider, I will stand by my patient’s side and walk hand in hand from when I first see them to when they are discharged from my care. As a PA, I will have the privilege of caring for my patients during their most vulnerable moments. With the paramount understanding to look past the symptoms and diagnosis, to reach out and connect human to human, to understand the person behind the illness.