Speech Composer

Hello and welcome to the premed program at our university. I'm honored to be here today to share with you some of the lessons I learned on my journey to becoming a doctor. I know that many of you have dreams of saving lives, curing diseases, and making a difference in the world. But I also know that the path to achieving those dreams is not easy. It is full of obstacles, challenges, and setbacks that can test your resolve, your confidence, and your passion. I'm here to tell you that you can overcome those obstacles and achieve your goals. You can do it by developing three key skills: grit, resilience, and self-care. These skills will help you face any difficulty that comes your way and keep you focused on your vision. Grit is the ability to persevere in the face of adversity. It is the willingness to work hard, to learn from your mistakes, and to improve yourself every day. Grit is what drives you to study for hours, to practice your skills, and to seek feedback from others. Grit is what makes you say "I can do this" when others say "You can't". Resilience is the ability to bounce back from failure. It is the capacity to cope with stress, to overcome disappointment, and to adapt to change. Resilience is what helps you recover from a bad grade, a rejected application, or a negative evaluation. Resilience is what makes you say "I will try again" when others say "You should give up". Self-care is the ability to take care of yourself. It is the practice of maintaining your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Self-care is what enables you to balance your work and your life, to manage your time and your energy, and to enjoy your hobbies and your relationships. Self-care is what makes you say "I deserve this" when others say "You don't have time". These three skills are not innate. They are not something you are born with or without. They are something you can develop and cultivate over time. And they are something you can learn from others who have gone through similar experiences. That's why I want to share with you some of the stories of people who inspired me on my journey. People who showed me what grit, resilience, and self-care look like in action. One of them is Dr. Paul Farmer, a renowned physician and humanitarian who dedicated his life to fighting infectious diseases in poor countries. Dr. Farmer grew up in a trailer park in Florida with his five siblings and his single mother. He worked as a janitor and a busboy to pay for his education. He graduated from Duke University with a degree in anthropology and then went on to Harvard Medical School. While he was still a student, he founded Partners in Health, a nonprofit organization that provides health care to millions of people in Haiti, Rwanda, Peru, and other countries. He faced many challenges along the way: lack of funding, political instability, cultural barriers, and personal sacrifices. But he never gave up on his mission. He used his grit to overcome every obstacle and his resilience to bounce back from every setback. He also practiced self-care by finding joy in his work and his family. He married a Haitian nurse and had two children with her. He maintained his friendships with his colleagues and his mentors. He wrote books and articles about his experiences and his vision. He said: "The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that's wrong with the world." Another person who inspired me is Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States. Dr. Blackwell was born in England in 1821 and moved to America with her family when she was 11 years old. She had a passion for social reform and education but faced discrimination and prejudice because of her gender. She applied to 29 medical schools before she was accepted by Geneva Medical College in New York. She faced hostility and ridicule from her classmates, her professors, and her patients. She was often excluded from lectures, labs, and clinics because she was considered unfit for medicine. But she did not let that stop her. She used her grit to excel in her studies and her resilience to overcome her challenges. She graduated first in her class in 1849 and went on to pursue further training in Europe. She also practiced self-care by pursuing her interests and her values. She founded the New York Infirmary for Women and Children, the first hospital run by women for women. She mentored other female physicians and advocated for women's rights and health education. She said: "If society will not admit of woman's free development, then society must be remodeled." These are just two examples of people who inspired me on my journey. In conclusion, the ability to overcome adversity is a valuable skill that we all need to develop in order to succeed in life. Whether we are facing academic challenges, personal setbacks, or global crises, we can use our grit, resilience, and self-care to navigate the difficulties and emerge stronger and wiser. We can learn from the stories of others who have overcome adversity and use their lessons to inspire ourselves and others. We can use the feedback from our failures to improve ourselves and our world. And we can celebrate our successes and achievements with gratitude and humility. Thank you for listening, and a warm welcome to all students!