The Values of the Past
An Interview
By Naya Lee
My grandfather is a hardworking man who set life goals when he was younger so that he could succeed. He worked hours on end to pay for college. Now retired as a well-known ophthalmologist, he’s motivated by the Chinese values that shaped his perspective on life as both a father and grandfather. His teachings are absorbed into us as grandchildren, and when we pass these values down to our kids, they will create a better and more successful future.
Making his parents proud and helping people in the world were two of my grandfather’s main goals in life. Once, he was in Napa on a trip when a waiter approached him, recalling the eye surgery my grandfather had performed. The waiter expressed his gratitude for the fact that he could now see things he had never been able to see before. This illustrates what drove my grandfather throughout his career and life: the profound impact he has had on other people. As his grandchild, I understand the importance of learning valuable lessons and principles from him that will be passed down to future generations and pave the way for future success.
Who influenced you when you were growing up, and how did that person play a role in who you are today?
My parents were my greatest influence. I was raised in a Chinese family. Many values were passed down from generation to generation; the value of a good education, of studying hard, and of getting into a good college. I took piano lessons and did Boy Scouts; I got involved with school leadership and became part of the student body. My parents emphasized that working hard and making money would lead to a good future. At the time, the goal of many Chinese parents was for their kids to have a premier occupation, specifically medicine. For a parent, it was like a badge on their shirt saying, ‘I'm a good parent.’ Particularly in the ‘40s and ‘50s, my parents experienced discrimination based on their race. This pushed them to work hard; my father was a pharmacist, and my uncle was a pharmacist. I had high expectations to follow.
How do you think you are impacting future generations as one of the most commemorated ophthalmologists? How has that been rewarding for you?
I taught many future surgeons, and I enjoyed it. Each person I taught would be able to take care of many more patients. It's like a multiplier effect. Say I did 200 corneal transplants in my career; that means I would’ve impacted 200 times the number of people as the number of surgeons I taught.
I wanted a balanced life – between my job and my family – and being an ophthalmologist provided that for me. My job was very enjoyable because I got to help people who had very bad eyesight. When I did a corneal transplant, my patients were happy to be able to read and drive. The satisfaction of seeing my patients happy with their results was not only an emotional thing but an ego thing. I remember when we were in Napa with my parents and your grandma, and a waiter came by and recognized me for doing a corneal transplant on his eyes. He was so happy, and that impressed my parents, which also made me happy.
How do you think your generation is different from my generation?
In all the ophthalmologists I’ve trained, I’ve noticed that younger people want a more balanced life. They aren’t looking into working 50 or 60 hours a week like I did when I was younger. I couldn't participate in many activities with my friends and family because I would be operating in the evening. In general, younger doctors, don't want that type of lifestyle. Certain specialties, like neurosurgery, come with a hard, unmanageable lifestyle. Many people today likely won't choose to be brain surgeons because it can be so demanding. I remember when I was working at Kaiser, a brain operation lasted a whole 3 days. Each surgeon worked for hours, and they came in and alternated with one another.
How has being a grandfather and father impacted your perspective of life and how you see it today?
Your grandma’s and my goal was to raise smart and mentally healthy children who would be independent. We made our resources available so they didn't have to work while they went to school. In my generation, we had several jobs; your grandmother and I both worked so that I could graduate medical school. We freed our children from having to worry about money because we thought they needed to put all their efforts into their education. We also appreciate the value of helping others in times of need. Medicine is a helping profession, Your mother is in a helping career as an estate planner. Uncle Jason is helping people pay for their healthcare. As a father, it makes me proud to see that I have raised such successful and smart children who can pass on the values I learned to future generations.
What advice would you give to me or an eighth grader going into high school?
Realize that as your life changes, your goals will change. However, I’ve learned that you should still set short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals. If you don't have goals, you might wander and waste time. I start my day by identifying the things I want to do for the next 24 hours. I also plan what I want to accomplish in the next three months, and what I want to do before I pass away.
Learning how to save is also important. If you save earlier, you’ll be able to live a more comfortable life in the future. With compound interest, the sooner you start saving money, the more you will ultimately earn and save. Deciding to save an extra dollar can be important. One Chinese characteristic is that we are very value-oriented. My mother gathered all her coupons to reduce the cost of things.
