The value of perseverance, shared through his accomplishments and failures, were expressed by Dr. Gabriel Mena, anesthesiologist at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, as he encouraged students to take control of their goals during a presentation held on Sept. 16 in the cafeteria. “Sometimes with your dreams and in life there are things you cannot do,” Mena said. “But you just have to detour and find another way. Always harvest every opportunity put in your life.”
As sophomore Sara Ng listened to Mena share his life growing up in Colombia, his family, education, and childhood dreams, she felt inspired.
“I know that no matter what happens, nothing can stop me from chasing my dreams,” Ng said.
As the founder of United2care, an international Children’s Foundation, which provides cancer treatment for children in poor regions, Mena described the importance of kindness.
“ [After I heard him] I wanted to help out, which is something we can all do,” sophomore Irene Jayesh said. “Because there are so many kids who have so little, unlike we do.”