
I decided to become an eye doctor as a medical student during an ophthalmology rotation. While rotating with one of the doctors, I met a boy named Eric. Eric was about 5 years old and had an eye condition that prevented him from seeing well. He was very withdrawn and hesitant to engage or communicate. A surgical procedure was recommended that would improve Eric’s vision. While the surgery was technically challenging, the surgeon was excellent and the surgery was performed in textbook–like fashion.
One week following the surgery, I saw Eric again and he was a completely different child. He was talkative, engaging and interactive. He gave me a high five and wanted to show me his new picture book. The sudden improvement in Eric’s vision gave him a new outlook of the world around him. The experience was impressionable and career altering for me, eventually leading me to my current profession.