On Saving Hope (and Maybe a Few
Geniuses)
"Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or
whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show."[1]
“I see a beautiful city and a brilliant
people rising from this abyss, and, in their struggles to be truly free, in
their triumphs and defeats.”[2] Like Dickens, I see
potential in society; as a physician, I can lead people to achieve their
fullest potential by removing the psychological and emotional burdens of their
health. Each individual has the potential to accomplish something; each
societal duty, however small, contributes to the larger theme. This is why it
is my leadership vision to become a doctor. As a doctor, I will have the ability
to cure physiological ailments, and by shouldering patients’ concerns about
their health, I can thereby give individuals the ability to concentrate on
their own contributions to society. From extremely influential, to overlooked,
yet equally significant roles, medicine has helped numerous people achieve
various forms of success. Medical advancements have aided in maintaining the
health of Stephen Hawking, one of the world’s most renowned modern physicists,
whose research has facilitated the understanding of difficult theories. On the
other end of the spectrum, medicine can also provide a simple thing such as
peace of mind to patients and their families.
Carlyle asks us, “What is the
sum-total of the worse that lies before thee? Death?”[3] This is probably what
Hawking initially believed; however, I know that death is not the worst that
lies before us. The 
greatest loss would have been if
he had not given the world his vital discoveries and theories on physics. His
research revolves mainly around theories behind black holes and quantum
gravity. However, it is not due to his own genius that has gotten him so far in
life. His immensely important scientific research has been made possible by
increasingly intricate, laborious, and constant advances in medicine. At
twenty-one, Hawking had just begun his doctorate education at
But Stephen Hawking did not die.
I am sure it would be difficult, in the face of that diagnosis, for twenty-one
year old Hawking 
to accept that he is going to
live at least another forty long, productive years. But he definitely could not
have done it on his own. In addition to the support of his doctoral tutor and
the constant supervision of many physicians, Hawking continued his research.
His health slowly began to decline; today he is almost completely paralyzed and
can barely talk. The genius of medicine has provided Hawking with technology to
aid his daily functions. Hawking is considered one of the most brilliant and
most important minds of modern science. His doctors have invested time caring
for him with the hope that Hawking will publish one more piece of genius. I
hope that as a physician, I can remove the burden of maintaining physical
health from individuals like Hawking; this gives Hawking the time and energy to
concentrate on what he can offer the future intellects of society. Hawking has
not only been given support and treatment by these doctors, but he has been
given hope and the motivation to move on; he believes that “To
confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human
spirit.”[5] Hawking has looked beyond his physical body and so will I. Medicine
is not a mere treatment of the body, but it is motivation of the soul; I aim to
work outside of myself and strive to heal injured motivations in other people. [6]
Regarding more ordinary lives, an
equally important function of medicine is to provide peace of mind for as many
people as possible. We strive 
to live in a
healthy society, but who or what 
determines
“healthy?” One of the most important motivating factors in every human life is
that of human contact and compassion. How does a doctor, who only heals the
mind, increase the amount of human contact, and more notably, love, in people’s
lives? Let’s take the case of a young
mother, Sarah[7], and her son at
Texas Children’s Hospital. Sarah frantically rushed her son into the emergency
room after he fell into an [8]end-stage cancer
induced coma (it is usually from this state that the patient dies). Her agony
can be articulated by Jane Eyre’s precise description of such pain: “May your eyes never shed such stormy, scalding,
heart-wrung tears as 
poured
from mine. May you never appeal to Heaven in prayers so hopeless and so agonized
as in that hour left my lips.”[9] [10] This is an impossibly difficult
situation that no one should have to experience, but the reality is that she did have to face it. However, through
her tears, she manages to focus on a handwritten letter from a child, blown up
and framed on the waiting room wall. The note was written by a six-year old
girl who had also 
suffered from
cancer. In three simple sentences, she described how the emergency room
physician was a flawless, focused, and dedicated individual who saved her life.
As Sarah reads this childish letter, in sweeps the very same doctor, the cape
of his white lab coat flying as he races to her son’s aid. After a few hours,
the hero manages to stabilize her son. She took him home that afternoon and
spent the day reading and playing with him. They fell asleep together in his
room, and the next morning they awoke to share one more glorious sunrise; he
died early in the afternoon. There is great significance in what our superhero
doctor did by granting this mother-son duo one more day. A character in the
movie Love Actually, articulates the importance of love in each of our lives: “Whenever I get gloomy with the
state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at 
[11]people on board were messages of
hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got
a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.”[12] What will Sarah think of
now, when she remembers her son’s last moments? It will not be of her sobbing
as she holds him in her arms right after the doctor tells her it’s too late.
No, her last memories of him will be of a wonderful day she got to spend with
her son telling him how she loved him; this beautiful day that ended with a
final farewell in the form of a fantastic sunrise, and death in the comfort of
his own home, surrounded by the things 
[13]and the people he loved.
Most people visit doctors when
there is something wrong as opposed to when they are happy and healthy. I do
not mind shouldering the burdens of others. William Blake believed that “Joy
and Woe are woven fine/ A clothing for the soul divine/ Under every grief 
and pine/ Runs a Joy with silken
twine.”[14] Illnesses usually take
away from daily routines and opportunities of happiness, sometimes it is
difficult to understand that “Joy and Woe are woven fine.” I hope to untwist
that silken twine and relieve my patients of their grievous burdens so that
they can have more joy in their lives. Dass observes,
“So often we deny ourselves and others the full resources of our being simply
because we’re in the habit of defining ourselves narrowly and defensively to
begin with.”[15]
My profession, which is directly concerned with the physiological care of my
patients may seem narrow. However, I choose to pursue this dream even if 
this interpretation is true,
because it is the consequences of my actions
that matter. In my “narrow” specialty, I can help people in an infinite number
of ways.
Though I have a plan for tackling
my immense goals, it is frightening to view the journey as a whole. To make it
more manageable, I have broken the giant task of obtaining a Medical Degree
into stages. First, I am dedicating all of my time and effort into achieving
the best possible performance in my last semester as an undergraduate. Then, I
will spend three months studying for the MCAT and applying to many schools. I
hope the schools I apply to will see my dedication and sincerity to the cause.
After graduating, I plan on participating in Doctors Without Borders. The only
thing I fear about my pursuit of an M.D. is that during the rigorous studies of
medical school, I will lose sight of what I am aiming for. This is why I choose
to begin my career with Doctors Without Borders. These physicians travel
overseas and tend to the populations of countries that do not have advanced
Western medicine. There is almost an entire continent that is dying from AIDS.
This is due to many different factors, from the lack of proper medicine and
care, to the lack of knowledge on the disease. I believe it is my
responsibility to help this continent back onto their feet, one patient at a
time. The experience of practicing medicine overseas, outside the comfort of
“Each station should be like a
beacon on the road toward better things, a center for trade of course but also
for humanising, improving, instructing.”[16] This quote demonstrates
one view on how each 
individual can contribute to
smoother functioning in society. Whenever I can, I will try to increase each
individual’s lifespan in hopes of increasing the probability that they will
have more significant contributions to society, or even just a few more happy
moments. Stephen Hawking was fortunate enough to receive treatment that
increased his lifespan. And what did society get in return for those doctors’
lifesaving efforts? Explanations to some of the universe’s most baffling
questions. I know that not everyone is, or can be a Stephen Hawking, and that
is okay. Each person has something to contribute, whether it is a world famous
symphony, support for their families, or even the service of a daily cup of
coffee with a smile. Who will I save? It could be an Einstein[17], or maybe a Mendelssohn,
Blake, Rowling, Steifel, or maybe someone who is a
fierce and loyal friend to many, the list and the 
possibilities go on. As I browse
these few great faces that adorn my essay, I wonder if I can save anyone as
great. My goal as a physician will be to “recall to life” as many individuals
in their own unique ways.
Final Word Count P2A: 1,414
RDB Word Count: 4,149
Word count after cuts: 1,254
Word count needed: 1,604
Final P2B Word count (Word count after revisions): 1,653
Project URL: https://webspace.utexas.edu/lw2893/E328/P2B/vic%20novel%20P2B.htm?uniq=vdsnee
Link to P2A deletions: https://webspace.utexas.edu/lw2893/E328/P2B/Vic%20novel%20P2A.doc?uniq=-cvz2d4
