Chapter 722: Dream

Chapter 722: Chapter 722: Dream

Li Xu stood at the lectern, his gaze sweeping over the sea of young faces as he continued to speak, "Back then, you probably all imagined wearing a white coat, saving lives, and earning everyone’s respect. You thought that if you just got into medical school, you’d graduate, become a good doctor, and, at the very least, have a respectable job."

"But then you started college, got exposed to actual clinical work, and learned more about the reality. You found out about the hardships of being a doctor, the endless night shifts, the stress from doctor-patient disputes, and the meager salaries for young physicians..."

"And this is especially true for us students of Traditional Chinese Medicine."

Li Xu deliberately emphasized his next words, striking a nerve. "You all know it in your hearts. Under the current healthcare system, the career path for a graduate specializing purely in TCM is much more difficult than for students of Western clinical medicine, dentistry, or ophthalmology. TCM departments in major hospitals are shrinking, while small private clinics struggle to stay afloat."

"Throughout my time in school, I saw many of my classmates, hoping to have more options after graduation or an easier time getting hired by a hospital, start taking Western medicine electives, studying for Western medical certifications, and even completely changing tracks to become pharmacists or pharmaceutical reps..."

In the audience, some of the upper-year undergraduate and graduate students lowered their heads, a pensive look on their faces.

Li Xu’s blunt words struck home, piercing the hearts of many like a knife.

After all, when it came down to it, most people studied medicine to find a good job and provide for their families.

The lofty, idealistic notion from their third year of high school—of "carrying on the lost teachings of the ancient sages"—was a world apart from the practical reality they faced in college, where they had to worry about rent and groceries.

Aside from a few rich kids who were just coasting, what ordinary student with even a little ambition wasn’t worried about their prospects after graduation?

Medical schools are unique in this regard.

At liberal arts or business colleges, what you major in doesn’t necessarily apply to your future career. Many students just coast by to get their credits, and as long as they get a diploma, they can find a job in sales or administration.

But a medical degree is different.

Everything you learn in medical school—anatomy, prescriptions, diagnostics...

If you work in the medical field after graduation, you have to use this knowledge. It’s a matter of life and death.

If you don’t join the rat race and desperately fight to learn real skills while you’re in school, not only will it be incredibly difficult to find a job after graduation, but even if you do, you’ll be a danger to your patients.

Once you’re in college, it’s normal to be anxious about your future livelihood, to look for a backup plan, and to take popular electives in other fields ’just in case.’

"In truth, this isn’t unique to medicine. In any major, at any university, finding a job is always easy for the students at the very top. But if you don’t learn any real skills and just go with the flow, finding a job is bound to be difficult."

Li Xu looked out at the audience. "Unemployment among college graduates has become a major social issue. You even see people online asking all the time: ’If graduation just leads to unemployment, what’s the point of even going to school?’"

He paused for a moment before continuing, "I once saw an answer to that question that I thought was perfect. It said, ’Getting an education doesn’t guarantee you a high-paying job or make you rich overnight. But it does give us the "power of choice."’"

"Without an education, without any specialized skills, your only options to survive might be a few menial jobs like working construction or making food deliveries. But the more you educate yourself, the more you master a skill, the more career options you will have, and the greater your chances will be of seizing an opportunity."

"Studying medicine is no different. Only when you truly apply yourself and master your craft can you escape the mire of the rat race and have better options, instead of just passively waiting for a hospital to choose you."

Li Xu then returned to the question the male student had asked at the beginning.

"The student before asked me how my perspective today differs from when I first started. Why did I study Traditional Chinese Medicine?"

"I’ll be honest with all of you. In the beginning, I really was just trying to make a living and find a good job. But..."

Li Xu’s eyes brightened. "But as I truly settled in and dove deeper into the classics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, as I witnessed the miraculous changes its prescriptions created in the human body, I found myself irresistibly drawn to it, developing a profound interest."

"As I went on to treat patients with all kinds of complex and intractable diseases, and as I witnessed more miracles where Western medicine was helpless but TCM could bring about a cure, my perspective began to change completely."

"As your medical skill improves, the landscape you see changes. Your ambitions naturally evolve and elevate along with it."

Li Xu stood at the center of the stage, his voice filled with an unconcealable, lofty passion:

"Right now, I run my own private clinic and serve as the vice president of the City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It’s no exaggeration to say that when it comes to ’work’ and ’money,’ I’ve already far surpassed the goals I had when I first entered medical school."

"And now that my survival needs are met and I’ve fallen deeply in love with this profession, I have naturally developed a desire to ’take on responsibility.’"

"I want to restore the reputation of Traditional Chinese Medicine. I want to change its current state of being marginalized and misunderstood. To put it in more audacious terms—I now want to ’leave my mark on history’!"

The moment Li Xu said this, a wave of commotion swept through the audience.

Some of the students were fired up, nodding in contemplation.

But a significant portion of the students, particularly the self-important graduate students, had expressions of clear disdain.

If Li Xu had merely said he developed an interest and passion for Traditional Chinese Medicine through his studies, everyone would have found it authentic and readily accepted it.

’But for Li Xu, who only graduated with a bachelor’s degree three years ago, to stand in a university lecture hall and shamelessly talk about ’taking on responsibility,’ ’changing the current state of TCM,’ and even audaciously claim he wanted to ’leave his mark on history’?’

’Wasn’t that getting a little ahead of himself?’

’It was just too arrogant.’

Everyone had found the first two reasons Li Xu gave to be very grounded and relatable.

But the third reason, "responsibility and ideals," sounded rather hollow and unrealistic coming from a young man in his twenties.

Forget a young man like Li Xu; even Director Liang in the back row, or the senior professors for that matter, would never dare to casually throw around grand phrases like "changing the state of TCM" or "leaving a mark on history."

Li Xu, still on stage, took in all the disdainful expressions from the audience.

He wasn’t angry. Instead, he let out a hearty laugh. "I know, your faces say it all."

"Human ambition has no limits. It’s like the old saying: give someone an inch, and they’ll take a mile. Once your belly is full, you start chasing after spiritual fulfillment. It’s perfectly normal to have dreams once you’ve acquired some skill. There’s no need to laugh."

Li Xu’s smile faded, his expression turning serious. "It’s true that a dream might not be realized. But having a dream can elevate your soul. It prevents your medical skill from being just a cold tool used to make a living."