I have placed a framed photograph of my late grandfather on my work desk at home. I often talk to him as I work on my research. He was a schoolteacher, but at the age of 30, he entered medical school and, by 40, became a neurosurgeon. Soon afterwards, in the 1950s, he chose to work as the sole doctor on a remote island in southern Japan, where he remained until the 1970s.
He often wrote to me, sending beautifully worded letters written with a fountain pen. In a gentle, humorous tone, he recounted many difficulties and challenges he faced. Once, he told a strange story about visiting a patient’s house, climbing up and down a rugged mountain path. On his way back, he said, he was “tricked” by some animals in the darkness. Everyone laughed at the story, but I remember feeling genuinely frightened.
I respected him deeply, as I do the rest of my family, many of whom are healthcare professionals. I don’t know how many times I have wondered why I did not choose to work in healthcare myself. Yet, here I am, a researcher in healthcare, albeit without formal clinical training. Still, I feel as though my grandfather is quietly telling me, “Carry on.”
Fortunately, I have been sustained by a strong and enduring passion for my research topic.
What truly matters
During the same period, while revising my manuscript, I was also mentoring students on their research projects. I found myself repeatedly thinking how wonderful it is when someone sets out to explore a topic they are genuinely curious about, or naturally good at, and then progresses steadily, step by step. Pursuing a single topic throughout one’s life can contribute to a small corner of a field.
One student initially selected a historical political topic for his project. As we talked, he gradually began to explain what truly fascinated him: cartoons. He had taught himself to draw and showed me his work, which was absolutely stunning. He explained that he believed cartoons would not be considered an acceptable research topic at university, and that this was why he had opted for a political subject instead. I reassured him that, depending on the methodology and approach, it was entirely possible to research cartoons. A few weeks later, he decided to change his topic and made remarkable progress. His critical analysis was eye-opening, and his passion for the subject sparked.
Sometimes, our interests and passions are buried deep within us, as though they are hiding to avoid discovery. I was genuinely pleased that this student felt able to articulate what truly interested him. I myself only uncovered my long-buried interest in healthcare at the age of 35.
