Dear Dr. Carson by Jeremy

Dear Dr. Carson by Jeremy - April 2014 Scholarship Essay

Dear Dr. Carson,

I thought it would be a travesty if I did not let you know how much you inspired me throughout my life. I am a neuroscience undergraduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who grew up in Baltimore. I always had a love for science, but I was lacking a positive role model to push me to my potential. After reading your book Gifted Hands, I felt like I had found a person in similar shoes, a mentor who could guide me through life.

I saw many parallels between your life and mine. I too had a mother who wanted to bring out the best in me. I always begged her if I could stay at home to play video games, but her answer was that those were only a temporary enjoyment whereas books could give me one that was lasting. I did not understand her at the time. I do not think a seven year old kid has the wisdom to understand the implications of that response. Thanks to my mom's wisdom, however, I eventually made the library my second home. I read books ranging from topics such as politics, religion, mathematics, philosophy, and chemistry. I was literally being overwhelmed with information, but I loved the feeling. It was like the whole world was at my fingertips ready to be understood at the flip of a page. Eventually I began to wonder where all this information would take me. I needed guidance. My mom said it would bring me towards a better life, but I needed something more tangible.

Eventually I came upon your book "Gifted Hands." My mother said that I should read it to understand how hard work will pay off. After reading your story, I was nothing less than inspired. You came from a poor but loving family, persevered in school despite misguided criticism from your classmates and teachers, found beauty in learning, and performed medical miracles because you had the determination to make the impossible possible. You defied all odds, and for that you should be congratulated. I understood now what I wanted to do in life- help people. I realized that all this information I was accumulating was fascinating but ultimately worthless, if I could not benefit others.

Not only did I find a new goal to put my efforts into, but I came to love what is now my favorite science, Neuroscience. At first, I was interested in the unexplainable aspects of the brain. Aspects that brought up questions such as how could a tangible machine like the brain create an intangible effect like consciousness, does our consciousness continue on after death, and why does a physical anomaly like the brain exist in the first place? After I was unable to find a suitable answer to these questions, I began to focus on questions which I saw had a solution. I began to be interested in the tangible aspects of the brain. What mechanisms can I affect to enhance acquisition and retrieval of memory, which neurons are involved in happiness, how can the brain be changed to enhance intelligence, and, most importantly, how can I find meaning out of this dense cluster of information called the brain? I like to view to brain as an advanced civilization that has been molded through the most extreme conditioning, evolution. Even though it has evolved, however, it still has room to grow past what people dream capable. I grew to love the brain because scientists, people like us, find ways to make this a reality.

Thanks to guidance from my family and you, my direction has been set. I cannot wait to explore further mysteries that neuroscience has in store for me and benefit society with this knowledge. Who knows how I will help the world? I might create a mind-enhancing drug, become a doctor, cure a disease, or find a new theory for the brain. However, this will not be how I measure my success. As long as what I did helped as many people I could while here on this Earth, then I have lived a fulfilled life. As Vince Lombardi once wrote, "“I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.”

It is funny that you do not even know me, yet I have been affected by you in so many ways. That is the power you have Dr. Carson. I am sure there are many other kids you have affected just begging for a chance to thank you. My life is only one story and, thankfully, not the last in this tale.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Dalcin