Taj Taher

13 May 2015
L3ADER Application Essay Questions

1. A relentless attitude is one I exude in everything I do, especially when it comes to my

duties as a Prep-Step. I find no contentment in my job until the patients are satisfied or I
am absolutely certain there is nothing left for me to contribute. Just last week I was
rounding on a patient whose nurse was giving her pills with great difficulty since the
patient was in a semi-conscious, unresponsive state. Upon finishing, the nurse lamented
that the patient should really eat but she did not have the time to spend with her. I took it
upon myself to ensure that the patient had her breakfast. I sat with her for about an hour,
trying to engage her verbally and holding the food up to her lips. In that entire time, she
never spoke a word, never opened her eyes, and never acknowledged my presence. I
wasnt going to force feed her, but I was going to sit there as long as it took to ensure that
she ate something. She was counting on me, as was her nurse, and I was determined to
see my obligation through to the end. By the time I had diligently sat by her side for an
hour, she had maybe a nibble or two of her food. The nurse relieved me eventually, but
praised my efforts: I was content knowing Id done all I could. My drive to never give up
and see my work completed through to the end is what distinguishes me as a relentless
individual. While I may not always succeed, the same relentless attitude helps me learn
from my mistakes and keep moving forward.
2. If I hope to contribute anything, it is inspiration through example. The most lasting
impact I can achieve will not be established by any individual task I complete, but by the
propagation of thoroughness, determination, efficiency, and high-spirit within the
participants of this program that I can spark by setting an example. Hearing the amazing
stories of exploits on the floors from the L3ADERS at my initial training certainly piqued
my curiosity, but it was seeing them in action affecting positive change that inspired me
to carry out my duties with every ounce of my effort, rather than simply checking the box
of a job completed. This is the sort of inspiration I aim to instill as a L3ADER, in the
hopes that even if my example comes to influence only one individual, that individual
will in turn carry the message forward and so on until a legacy of high-quality work is
further established.
3. This year I had the pleasure of teaching Honors 100, the introductory course for all
incoming Honors students at UW. My official title was Peer Educator since my
responsibilities involved teaching the students about the Honors curriculum but through
the lens of a fellow student. The position required many skills relevant to being a
L3ADER, the most significant of which was being highly organized. I had to draft ten
weeks worth of lesson plans before the quarter even began, and then maintain and edit
them as the quarter progressed. Time management during classes was crucial, as I had to
get through the material and the activities planned for the day in such a way that ensured
we never ran out of time to get everything done but never at the expense of the students
thorough understanding of the material. In addition to planning and teaching classes, I
was responsible for grading weekly homework, providing comments, and attending an
additional Peer Educator class. Throughout the entire experience, it was imperative that I
remained diligent and organized: I would have drowned in my responsibilities otherwise.

Taj Taher
13 May 2015
For these technical reasons, being a Peer Educator really prepared me for the expectations
of a L3ADER role. But additionally, the mindset of being a peer before being an educator
instilled a sense of humility throughout the entire process. Just as I was a peer to the
students in my class before I was their educator, so too will I remember that Im a PrepStep Healthcare Scholar at my core. As a L3ADER, this will ensure that I remain
thoughtful while carrying out my responsibilities.
4. Other Commitments:
Volunteering at Seattle Childrens 1, 3 hour shift per week
Mortar Board (Honor Society) 1 hour long bi-monthly meeting + miscellaneous service
projects that vary temporally
I do not foresee any reason for my academics or other commitments to compromise my
ability to fulfill the additional L3ADER requirements. My schedule is fairly open in
general and I have maintained a large degree of flexibility to ensure that my Prep-Step
commitments have been given appropriate precedence thus far.