<p>When coming across a turning point in ones life, its important to have some motivation to not only accept the change, but also to live it to its fullest potential. A purpose such as this was fulfilled in my life by a book called The Pact. Reading the book gave me the motivation I needed to embark on the journey of pursuing my dream of becoming a doctor. </p>
<pre><code> Ever since I can remember, I have wanted to be a doctor. The idea of helping people and making a difference in their lives has always been quite intriguing for me. However, as I have gotten older, the cons involved in the field have made me reconsider my decision an infinite number of times. The eight years or more of schooling, then another four of five years of residency before I can actually practice have often caused me to rethink my passion for the field. Then, on a more practical scale, the amount of money needed to pay for medical school is a huge factor to consider, as well. All in all, the more I have thought about becoming a doctor, the more that I have been pushed away from it. What used to be a fantasy has now become a nightmare, and the sad part is that the journey has not even begun. (nice wording)
However, reading about the struggle that Rameck, George, and Sam had to go through to become doctors, has helped some of my negative thinking to go away. The way these three ordinary men fought against the odds and became legends certainly made me rethink all of my reasons of not becoming a doctor. Unlike these three, I come from a well established area and family, where things such as violence and crime are things only seen in the movies. For me, peer pressure only goes as far as procrastinating a little to go shopping with a bunch of friends or opting for hours of nonsense chitchat rather than studying for the upcoming tests. Even with these little distractions, I sometimes think to myself that if I went to medical school, then I wouldnt have time to do all these things, and life would become all work and no play; adding to a long list of cons against going into the medical field.
The story of these three men showed me otherwise. I remember parts of the book, in which Rameck and Sam went clubbing, or the three of them got together on the weekends to have some fun, even with their busy schedules as medical students. These three helped me to acknowledge the fact that it is not impossible to manage work and play, even as a medical student; and sometimes you have more fun when you are in a situation like medical school, because you learn to appreciate even the smallest things that you do for pleasure. (Good examples from the story)
Reading The Pact also made me realize that it doesnt matter what you do not have to become a doctor, its the things that you do have that are of true importance. The three heroes in this book had almost nothing when they decided to make the pact and fulfill a dream; no money, no resources, not even a whole lot of knowledge of what they were about to embark upon. Yet none of that mattered in the end, what did matter though are all the things that they did have, such as passion, support, determination, and each other. Considering these things helped resurface the fantasy I had about becoming a doctor as a little girl. I began thinking to myself that I have all the things that these three had, if not more, so why should I give it a try and go for it; and suddenly the cloud of negativity hanging over my head, for what now seems like eternity, finally lifted, and some positive light shed through. (like the light and cloud references)
So I decided to major in biology/premed, and so far have been using all that I have learned from the authors of The Pact as motivation to help me go through each day feeling like I can do it, rather than I cant. I have always had the passion of becoming a doctor, but reality had caused it to bury deep within my thoughts. However, I have come to realize that I shouldnt always let the world scare me away from fulfilling my dreams, and that it is possible to reach my goals as long as I am willing to try. I am grateful for the fact that I got to read this book before I started college, because otherwise I might not have even tried becoming a doctor, and then I mightve spent the rest of my life wondering what if I had.
As of yet, there is still no guarantee that I will end up becoming a doctor, but what is guaranteed is that I will try. And if the world starts gaining up on me again, like it has done a countless number of times in the past, I can now deal with it better knowing that at least three other people already have. I have always looked for inspiration in people who I personally know in my life, but now three people who I have never even met have become part of this very exclusive list; and have joined a team of highly qualified individuals who have helped me become the person I am today, as well as the person that I will go on to become in the future.
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<p>Alumna Teresa Ramirez (Class of 04, Biology) was featured in an article in the San Francisco Chronicle on March 14. Young woman defies skeptics in her pursuit of becoming a doctor and scientist describes the Compton natives determination to go to medical school.</p>
<p>I came across people, even the priest at my church, who said, I dont think youre smart enough to be a doctor,'" Ramirez is quoted as saying. </p>
<p>In the article, Ramirez credited Compton schools for encouraging her on her way. She was chosen in 2003 for the Minority and Indigenous Fellows Program of the Biotechnology Institute and is currently studying the response of cancer cell cultures to experimental drug combinations at the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Maryland, where she has been offered another year of the fellowship. </p>
<p>In an e-mail interview, Ramirez said, Being a student at Dominguez Hills was fantastic. As a CSUDH student I was given the opportunity to be part of the Minority Biomedical Research Support Program, which introduced me to biomedical research. The knowledge that I gained in my classes helped me understand a topic in science more when I was able to conduct experiments in Dr. Laura Robles's lab. </p>
<p>One of my dreams after learning about biomedical research was to one day conduct cancer research at the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute, she continues. I give thanks to both the people and the opportunities given to me at Dominguez Hills. Now, one of my dreams has become a reality.</p>