Mine

From Stars and Galaxies to Stethoscopes and Gurneys

	When I lowered my head to gaze into the viewfinder of the small red telescope, I wasn’t expecting to see the craters as large as they were.  This was the first time I had ever seen the moon through a telescope, and the craters looked as big as if I were floating in space two miles away.  The person who brought this incredible sight to my eyes is Dr. David Shearer, a family friend, amateur astronomer, and former chief of nuclear medicine and ultrasound at York Hospital.  I met him the summer after first grade at my mother’s annual department picnic.  By that time I had already expressed a great interest in science, but he helped me to realize that I could turn my interest into a career.  When he learned of my knowledge of the stars, he set up his telescope so he could point out major constellations.  I distinctly remember learning the formations of Cassiopeia and Orion that night, and to this day I can still locate them in a clear sky.  
Also that summer, Dr. Shearer showed me the summer triangle, an asterism consisting of three bright stars that only occurs during the summer months.  This prompted me to do my third grade science fair project—my first research project—on the summer triangle and the winter circle.  Upon completion of the fair, my father took my project to Dr. Shearer’s house so he could look at it.  When we went to pick it up, Dr. Shearer told us he was astonished at the comprehension I had of the subject matter at such a young age.  In the summers that followed, he showed me more stars and constellations and taught me about galaxies, nebulae, and other heavenly bodies.  He even showed me the moon, Venus, and Saturn.  I eventually stopped going to these picnics, but I remember and cherish what Dr. Shearer taught me to this day.  
	Dr. Shearer helped not only to start me on my path towards my future career, but also to develop my latest, and possibly final, career choice.  Last year, I wrote an “I-search” paper for my high school’s career program, and I interviewed Dr. Shearer not as an astronomer, but as a doctor.  He explained to me his major in college, biochemistry, and how he believed that the combination of biology and chemistry was extremely beneficial to his career.  He also advised me on some courses to take while I was still in high school, such as Anatomy and Advanced Placement Biology and Chemistry.  I learned a plethora of new information about medical careers including possible dangers, working conditions, and the personal qualities these careers require.  This advice has greatly molded my decisions and has affirmed my decision to become a physician.
	Dr. David Shearer is the most influential person in respect to my future career choice because he showed me how one of my interests could eventually become what I do for a living.  He encouraged me to learn more about the things that piqued my interest.  He also gave me insight on medicine—my current career plan.  In essence, I owe my pursuit of a science-related career to Dr. Shearer.