A Dream Diferred

A Dream Diferred

While most fifth graders in the mid 90’s were playing sega genesis and collecting pogs, I was busy holding fervent discussions with my father as to whether or not Neurology was the field of medicine best suited to my disposition. I have always had a knack for helping people. I wouldn’t say science came naturally to me, but I worked hard and had great teachers, so those factors made my fondness for it grow each day.

After my father past away, the dream of one day being known as “Dr. Bing” soon became a painful memory of my past. Nevertheless, I, by no means, lost sight of my main objective: to help people. I decided that I wanted to explore the artist in me so I examined how I could achieve my objective through the discipline of theatre, which many people may say is useless, but I would have to disagree. I’ve learned a great deal about myself and about how people interact with one another. Furthermore, I’ve learned how to stand by my commitments and give my all, no matter the endeavor. However, the most important thing obtained during my search was a love for knowledge. It was fostered by copious amounts of distinguished faculty members and classmates who represented all walks of life, which has given me the ability to connect on a basic human level with pretty much any and everyone I meet.

At present, it seems as though the occurrence of a person who has had the good fortune of encountering a doctor who provided exceptional care is roughly equivalent to the odds projected for one winning the lottery. I have met some amazing doctors throughout my life, mostly due to the fact that both of my brothers were in and out of hospitals while we were growing up because of sickle cell anemia, but those were rarities. Most doctors I’ve come into contact with have been clinicians; able to diagnose a disease but not really capable of internalizing the fact that they are members of a distinct sect of the populace who is responsible for sustaining human life and that fact alone touts a prerequisite for something more-something greater than just a clinician.

Personally, I want to go in pediatrics; specifically cardiology. I’m extremely fascinated by the recent breakthroughs that have occurred in that branch of medicine, particularly the research pertaining to Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology. I recently read that Dr. Kenneth R. Chien’s research laboratory at Harvard discovered a "master" cardiovascular stem cell that can give rise to all three major cell types in the heart: cardiac, smooth muscle, and endothelial . It is unbelievably amazing to me that, potentially, a human heart can be created and given to a little girl with no hope of living past the age of nine so that she can one day know what it’s like to go to prom or kiss a boy.

Everyone has been telling me to choose a path. They say, “You can’t do both Desmond! You can’t be a doctor and an artist.” I’ve decided that I’m not going to choose. My background in the arts will only contribute to my quest for knowledge by making readily available a multitude of creativity and warmth, which can be utilized in fully in the position I’m choosing to pursue in the medical field. To give people the comfort of knowing that you’re on their side and willing to do any and every thing in your power to help them is the first and, I believe, most important job of the doctor. Doctors save lives; and that is probably the coolest thing anyone can ever be a part of. All I ask of you is the opportunity to explore another side of myself and, hopefully some day, help people all over the world. Langston Hughes once posed the question, “What happens to a dream deferred?” I think an appropriate answer to that would be, “Whatever you want to happen to it.”