Why Medicine: Sophie's Story

Sophie Baldwin, 4/5/24

“Sophie? Are you okay?” I heard a voice asking. I squinted my eyes and looked up at my concerned coach’s face. A few seconds earlier, I had tripped and hit my head. I glanced over at the scoreboard: 4-3 with 10 minutes left to go. We were down by one goal, and I had to keep playing the soccer game.

I jumped up, ignoring the slight dizziness I felt. I hadn’t passed out, so I couldn’t have a concussion, I told myself. I told my coach to put me back in, eager to keep playing.

A week later, I had another fall during a game and hit my head once again. This time, I knew something was wrong. I had a headache and felt sick. The next day, I went to the doctor, who told me I had suffered from back-to-back concussions and that I needed to sit out for the rest of the fall season. I was devastated. Had I known the signs of concussion, I would have stopped playing in that first game and avoided the second concussion.

Months later, I suffered from another soccer-related concussion. Again, I was forced to sit out the rest of the season. Frustrated, confused, and upset, I began to seek out answers.

I started by researching the signs of concussions. I wanted to know what exactly was going on inside of my brain and what I could do to prevent further injury. From this research, I discovered my passion for neuroscience. I was fascinated by the brain and continued seeking out answers for brain health.

At the end of my sophomore year, I saw a concussion specialist. It was this experience that showed me the effect a doctor can have on someone’s life. I had walked into his office scared and confused, worried that I would not be able to recover from my concussions. After asking him all my questions and creating a recovery plan, I walked out with my mind more at ease. I then realized the impact a doctor can have by providing knowledge and answers when it feels as though there is no hope left.

The goal of a doctor is to make someone feel better. While this can be done physically, it is also important to be done emotionally. A doctor can play a pivotal role in the life of a patient, simply by easing their mind. It was my experience with the concussion specialist that inspired me to pursue medicine. I hope that one day, I will be able to impact someone’s life in the same way.