Heart, Mind, and Mission: My Path to Medicine
SCIENCE
I want to become a cardiothoracic surgeon. When someone asks me, “Why do you want to become a doctor?” I don’t just think of a single moment. I think of a lifelong pull toward something deeper than a career. For me, medicine is not just a profession. It’s a calling.
A Childhood Fascination
Even as a child, I was curious about how the human body worked. I remember sculpting a clay heart in 2nd grade and labeling every part, not because I had to, but because I wanted to know how something so small was crucial for keeping us alive. It amazed me how everything in life depends on what we can’t even see.
That curiosity never left. In 7th grade, I got to hold a real pig heart during a dissection lab. It was nothing like the diagrams. It was heavier. It was textured. It felt alive, even though it wasn’t. That day confirmed what I had always felt: I want to understand how the body works, and help when it doesn’t.
Personal Motivations
My decision to choose medicine wasn’t just based on curiosity. But personal also.
I lost my grandfather to heart disease in 1998, even though he was under medical care and medications since 1979. That loss made me ask questions: What went wrong? Could something have been done sooner? What was missed? It taught me that even with all our advances, there’s still so much to learn and discover. Also, more importantly, lives to save.
I want to be the kind of doctor who doesn’t just treat illness, but also helps prevent it. I want to be there for families before tragedy happens, not just after. Ensuring that everyone lives the life they deserve.
Things I Love
I’ve always had a love for science because it helps me understand how the body works—why symptoms happen, how organs function, and what can go wrong. But I also love math. There’s something satisfying about solving problems with logic and precision. Math helps me think, spot patterns, and approach challenges step by step. And a fun hobby of mine is building puzzles. It helps with analyzing and putting pieces together to make the final picture turn out great.
In medicine, both science and math are essential. Whether it’s calculating doses, analyzing test results, or thinking through a diagnosis, these subjects give me the tools to understand, reason, and help others. Medicine is where my curiosity, logic, and compassion come together.
It’s Not About the Title
When I think about a doctor, I have always had a high level of respect for them. Being a doctor is not an easy pathway, and it is at least a 10-year process. People dedicated to this show their passion for helping others when they need it the most. This job also comes with a lot of trust that is earned through a reputation, where lots of practice and hard work are needed. Doctors are lifesavers, and the thought of being the person who saved someone’s life is a satisfaction that is unmatched and deeply fulfilling.