GIVING BACK- VISIT TO THE SCHOOL (DOCTORS DIARY By Akshat Jain, Ref.-The South Asian Times NY)
With the rains pouring down like there is going to be no tomorrow, the day began on a discouraging note ,as to step out of the house was not easy ,and when you are in New York city it is never too easy .
But the scheduler had assigned my day to the school , which I once visited as a guest some months back ,again today I had commited to visit out of shear excitement and opportunity, to get in touch with my past, when I was a kid. The principal of the Discovery Charter school in Newark town of New Jersey , wanted me as Doctor to come and talk about a healthy life style and other doctor stuff, which although I was prepared to talk on, but the sheer innocence of the kids ranging from grade 2 to grade 5 ,was so subliming , that I went back down memory lane and opened my heart out to speak , but only an overwhelming day was about to unfold..
“Can oxygen be corrosive to the body?” was among the first medical questions asked by the 3rd grader !!! and as would any doctor be , I was shocked at the insight and focus of the kid who had taken the pain to read and search about such a innocent yet challenging question ..many similar questions followed , and I realized the importance of right approach and guidance at such a young age.
In a group of around 15 kids from mixed background’s ,5 wanted to become a doctor,4 a lawyer , 2 teacher , and 3 wanted to pursue arts.
On asking them individually about their aims and how they are going to achieve it , sure they had little idea as to how to proceed , but one answer did melt my heart , a 4th grader little girl told me she wanted to become a cardiac surgeon ,and when I asked why ? Pat came the answer-‘ I was operated upon while I was 3 year old ,and I want to give back to the kids ,like me , who suffered ,and got cured” …
The reward came end of the day when the principal mrs.weiland called me and told me ,lil john after talking to me , had told his parents in affirmative that he is going to become a cardiologist ! and may be over the time the thinking process may chance his decision ,but these early experiences do leave a memory ,like they did to me , and sure “I gave back”…
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