TURNING POINTS:
DEFINING MOMENTS THAT
SHAPED ME
Introduction
Life is a journey of twists and turns, and certain moments define who we are and who we aspire to become. For me, these turning points were not just events—they were lessons, each one revealing a part of myself I hadn’t known before. From small acts of rebellion to life-altering decisions, these moments continue to guide me toward my future.
A Rebellious Spirit – The MP3 Incident
Finding Freedom in Small Acts of Defiance
I still remember the thrill of rebellion when I bought my first MP3 player with the money I had saved up for the New Year.
I was tired of the constant ping-pong practice (getting me up at 6 am every day? That’s a disaster), which felt more like a burden than an enjoyable activity. For a month, I skipped table tennis practice, hiding somewhere secretly and listening to music that felt like it belonged only to me. It was my small world, carved out of a life where everything else was dictated.
However, when my grandparents found out, I faced punishment, writing a lengthy reflection on my “disobedience.” At the time, it felt unfair, but as I grew older, I realized that this moment wasn’t just about breaking the rules—it was my first step toward understanding the importance of choice and personal freedom.
It was the most famous song in China 17 years ago.
I don’t exaggerate—I bought the MP3 just for this song!
Facing Crisis with Composure
Grandfather’s Accident – The Calm Within Chaos
One of the most defining moments in my life happened unexpectedly. I was home one day when my grandfather, in his seventies, had a terrible accident. He fell, hitting his head on a table corner, and started to bleed profusely. That sight was shocking, and my grandmother panicked, overcome by fear and tears. But instead of feeling fear, a profound calm washed over me. Everything around me seemed to slow down. There were no waves of panic or overwhelming emotions, and rather, I felt a strange sense of peace that blocked out everything unnecessary, as if I were in a vacuum bubble. My mind became laser-focused, telling me to call an ambulance and cover his head wound with a towel to control the bleeding. I even remembered to grab some emergency cash for my grandma, just in case. It wasn’t until the ambulance drove off that it hit me just how intense the situation had been.
Looking back, I find it surprising that I took such actions responsibly as just a twelve-year-old. I cleaned the blood off the floor, washed the cloth, and took a shower, eventually going to bed as if nothing, out of the ordinary had happened that day. To my surprise, I fell into a deep, peaceful sleep, something that felt almost surreal given what had just occurred.
Reflecting on it afterwards made me see a part of myself that emerged during intense moments of pressure. A side that could push fear aside and concentrate completely on seeking solutions, in challenging circumstances. That particular moment solidified my aspiration to be someone who can manage crises effectively. Not just reacting but proactively solving issues when things are tough. I had glimpsed a part of myself that thrived on taking control in urgent situations, and it felt natural, even right.
In loving memory of my dearest grandpa, whose unwavering courage in his battle against cancer strengthened my dream to pursue medicine. He was a man of incredible strength and resilience, and his legacy continues to guide me.
Rest in peace.
Breaking Free to Follow My Dreams
The Decision to Study Abroad
When I first attended university in China, I was assigned to the preventive medicine program and could not change my specialty to become a clinician. This restriction put heavy pressure on me, and I was constantly dissatisfied with my career plan for my specialty. Preventive medicine, while important, felt too distant from the hands-on care and immediate problem-solving that had drawn me to medicine in the first place. Sitting in class, I felt out of place, and it seemed that with every class I listened to, my dreams were getting further and further away from me.
A lot of great memories from university: every winter, we would build a frog snowman because the frog was our medical school dean’s social media avatar.
We would place our medical books on the snowman and pray for a high final grade!
After a year and a half of struggling with this reality, something made me determined to leave the program. The outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic quarantined the entire school in dormitories for two months. Just when I couldn’t bear the loss of freedom and thus jumping up and down in the dormitory, I suddenly realized that if I continued to muddle along studying a major I didn’t like or even accepting this job in the future, I would spend my whole life the same way as I was now quarantined – losing my freedom and wasting my time. That night, I was alone on the balcony and suddenly became so emotional that I burst into tears. I called my mom to tell her my decision: I must transfer to a school abroad and continue my medical studies elsewhere.
The path I chose wasn’t easy. Many people, including close family members, questioned my decision. Leaving a reputable university in China and the comfort of a stable career path seemed reckless to them. But staying meant compromising my passion and settling for a life that didn’t excite me. Over the next year, I worked tirelessly to prepare for the transfer—juggling language exams, university applications, and coursework. It was one of the most challenging periods of my life but also one of the most rewarding.
My fondest memories in university were joining the broadcasting station, where my friends here walked me through the most stressful times. Our voices rang out across campus daily, delivering news, entertainment, music ……
When I received my acceptance letter from the University of Pittsburgh, it felt like a door to a brighter, more fulfilling future had opened. Now, as I sit in my classroom, I can see how far I’ve come. This journey wasn’t just about changing schools—it was about reclaiming my freedom and recommitting to the dream that has always been at the core of who I am. Studying abroad isn’t just an academic pursuit; it’s a leap of faith, a declaration that I’m willing to fight for the life I want.
