FUTURE:
Dreaming Beyond Boundaries
Introduction – Chasing a Purposeful Life
The future is where dreams meet determination. For me, it’s not just about achieving a career—it’s about becoming the best version of myself, someone who thrives on challenges and creates meaningful impact. My journey ahead is defined by my passion for medicine, my aspiration to be an emergency doctor, and my commitment to overcoming every obstacle along the way.
Why Becoming an Emergency Doctor?
Throughout my journey in high school years, my passion for medicine grew steadily driven by my fondness for biology and the intriguing complexity of the human body. I became captivated by the idea of becoming an emergency doctor—a professional who represents the ultimate blend of crisis management and medical expertise.
My excitement grew further as I watched medical dramas like Grey’s Anatomy and The Good Doctor, portrayed as valiant troubleshooters who fearlessly navigate through turbulent scenarios with expertise and composure. They embodied the essence of the composed and sharp-witted person I aimed to become. Each episode brought a new challenge, a new patient in crisis, and I found myself drawn to the intensity and unpredictability of the emergency room.
This was a role that could satisfy my love for fast-paced, high-stakes environments, while also allowing me to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. It felt like the perfect career for someone like me, who thrives on adrenaline and finds purpose in moments of crisis.
No one can believe I could watch these two TV series while eating lunch😂.
The Road Is Long but Worth It
Challenges Ahead
This passion for solving urgent problems has also shown me some of my own challenges, especially with regard to procrastination.
Who hasn’t gone to see Hamilton the Musical?
It was really fantastic and highly recommended.
Every final week, I wish I was as good at writing as Hamilton.
I tend to delay tasks, often pushing things to the last minute because I enjoy the thrill of working under pressure. There’s a part of me that loves the rush of urgency, the spike of adrenaline that comes with a looming deadline. I’ve found myself in situations where, despite having plenty of time to study or complete assignments, I hold off until the last possible moment, just to experience that familiar rush of tackling a problem head-on. In a way, I am creating my own emergencies, relishing in the excitement of solving them with the clock ticking down.
However, I realize that this habit isn’t sustainable, especially in a profession like medicine, where patients’ lives depend on timely, careful actions.
Learning first aid and listening to heart rate for the first time.
Two of my classmates and I used our knowledge from this course to successfully resuscitate an unconscious elderly person in an underground station, and it was the most fulfilling moment of my life.
To address this, one teacher once humorously suggested that I imagine myself as a doctor, with each assignment being like a patient waiting for treatment. “If you don’t do today’s surgery, the patient may not survive tomorrow,” she’d say. It was a funny comparison but surprisingly effective, helping me to see the importance of planning and pacing myself.
Now, I’ve begun to approach my responsibilities as if they were “medical cases” that require careful planning and timely intervention. I break down my work into manageable parts, reminding myself that, just as in medicine, tackling problems in stages can be just as rewarding and effective as the last-minute adrenaline rush.
I’m learning that true emergency handling isn’t about thriving in chaos; it’s about preventing chaos from overwhelming the situation.
What I Hope to Achieve
Vision for the Future
Even now, if someone asks me who I want to become, the answer is clear: I want to be an emergency doctor. This isn’t just a career choice; it reflects who I am and the values I hold. I want to be someone who remains calm when others can’t, someone who can make quick, effective decisions in critical situations. I want to experience that unique focus, that almost meditative state, that I first felt when helping my grandfather.
The future is uncertain, but it’s also full of potential. I believe that I can create a life that aligns with my values and aspirations with hard work, resilience, and passion.
Lab members and I in UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
