Find The Pocket

By Ria Khandpur

My name is Ria, and I am in my fourth and final year of medical school at VCU. This summer, my goal was to begin writing my personal statement for my residency application due at the end of September. When I started to think about topics, I had no idea where to begin or what to write about. Creativity can’t be forced, and I knew I had to write about something close to my heart, something that described me and my true essence. As I thought back over the past year or so of medical school, one thing was constant: Richmond Urban Dance. Through taking dance classes at this organization, my life has slowly and steadily evolved for the better. Before finding RUD, I felt lost and one-dimensional. I had just been through one of the toughest periods in my life so far, and I didn’t know what made me happy anymore. I was isolated, lonely, and burnt out. School didn’t make it any easier; through my third year, I hopped from rotation to rotation every month testing out every medical specialty, making personal connections or feeling a spark only to lose it when I had to start all over again. Everything shifted when I began taking dance classes in November. I noticed a slow metamorphosis as my zest for new experiences grew; I started gravitating towards neurology as a field, and regained the ever-elusive feeling of pure joy that I had lost for so long. While I studied relentlessly for my board exams, dance became my refuge as well as my outlet. I performed in the I Am Hip Hop 5 showcase in April during that study period and have since joined the Company’s performance squad. Dancing was the catalyst to finding myself again after dedicating so much of my efforts towards school, leaving little energy and passion for the rest of life. As I dedicated myself to hip-hop I uncovered characteristics I didn’t know I had lost along the way- drive for improving myself, dedication to a craft, bravery to try new things and sit in discomfort, and most importantly, feeling the strength of community. The friendships and relationships I have developed with the people here have become an anchor as the seasons change; I went from a new, nervous, complete stranger to feeling so welcomed and bombarded with hugs and hellos every time I show up for class (and I show up for class a lot)! RUD wove its way into my heart, and my perspective was permanently altered for the better. I am forever grateful to RUD for spurring me to grow into the version of myself I am now; confident and decisive in myself and my body, intricately connected with my community, and always looking forward to what is yet to come, whether that be my next class or the next stages of my life. 

The rapid pace of the choreography refined my efficiency in adapting quickly to learn on my feet, a transferable skill that I constantly applied in my neurology rotations.

Without further ado, the personal statement itself, inspired and cultivated by RUD:

I am a collector of activities. Amidst swimming, competitive tennis, weightlifting, climbing, hiking and more, I am constantly searching for my next addition. These experiences have fostered the dedication, adaptability, and passion I have used during my adventure in medicine. My most recent endeavor began this past November in my exploration of hip-hop dancing. My first classes were intimidating yet invigorating, reminiscent of each new experience in medical school. The rapid pace of the choreography refined my efficiency in adapting quickly to learn on my feet, a transferable skill that I constantly applied in my neurology rotations. While educating underclassmen on the physical exam, I harnessed my experience in dance to comprehensibly direct the complex moves and sequence of the routine. My integration into the hip-hop community also enhanced my interpersonal skills. As neurological patients cultured camaraderie in shared experiences, their interdisciplinary teams required flexibility and strong communication skills to prosper. Still, like in dance, I could adapt to the intricate rhythms and tell patients' stories. I knew then I had fallen in love with neurology, just like dancing. 

Neurology and dance both involve practice and dedication. In dance, preserving the equilibrium between anticipating choreography and focusing on rhythm requires extensive repetition to master. There is a parallel need for rehearsal in neurology. There are countless neural connections in the brain, but to translate those connections into movement, a pathway must be established and quickly initiated to set that sequence into action. I exhibited my dedication to practice in preparation to perform in my first showcase. I gave my all to rotations and exams, simultaneously managing three-hour practices five times a week. Passion drove me to fully maximize my involvement in both dance and medicine. Ultimately, I learned over 33 routines in multiple styles in just two months while preparing for my boards. My efforts synchronized in both my performances; the immense fulfillment and unity I felt dancing with my team in the showcase carried through to my exam day. Our experiences allow us to stand out as physicians; I aspire to be a physician that dedicates themselves to improving the quality of life of my patients by utilizing my dedication, versatility, and passion from the summation of my experiences. 

I have found a new home in my studio, but I have also felt more at home within myself. Dance has nurtured my connection to my physical self, allowing me to unearth new movements and motifs. In my neurology career, I hope to help those with physical difficulties rediscover and strengthen their connection with their own selves too, like I did with John. I had worked with John weekly while volunteering with Parkinson's patients at a local gym. I had helped prepare a timed strength circuit of stepping over a low band, walking a lap around the gym, and balancing on one foot. John was visibly frustrated with his performance; he fought to initiate steps and was struggling to balance without holding on to me. During our time together, I continued to encourage and connect with him on a personal level, a skill that we as physicians must foster to quickly establish trust and positive rapport with our patients. As the exercise progressed and he became steadier, he was able to balance longer, step faster, and walk with more confidence. John was forming new movement pathways of his own and remodeling his own circuitry right in front of me. This active example of neuroplasticity allowed me to further visualize and relate neurology to my own body and mind, and John's pride in each modification is a core memory I look forward to reconstructing with many others in my neurology career. 

  In dance, we have a saying to "find the pockets" in an expeditious routine. This phrase describes those short instances in a number that a dancer is able to sit in the beat for a moment, add their own personality and light, and lose themselves in the music. I know that neurology has become my pocket in medicine. I feel most like myself within the rhythm of this discipline and I look forward to shaping my unique signature with my patients and in my career as a neurologist.  

Ria Khandpur

In dance, we have a saying to "find the pockets" in an expeditious routine.  I know that neurology has become my pocket in medicine.