College Graduation

Narrator: As the graduates made their way in, Georgie Christianson waited for her son Louis, who in an hour or so would finally be called doctor.

Louis: I think I got my love of education from my mother, who emigrated from Mexico. And one of the things that she really valued about being here is the opportunity for education.

Mrs. Christianson: We are delighted. We have waited a long time for Louis to graduate and we are very happy parents.

Narrator: That joy was shared by many other parents in the audience.

Speaker: I'd love to share with you some stories about the medical students soon to be physicians before you.

Narrator: Christianson's story is simple. He's a local boy who grew up in Claremont. Nine years ago Christianson was graduating from Madison High School. He said at that time he had no idea that medicine would be his calling.

Louis: At that time my goal was to get into college. I went to UC Berkeley and sort of explored all the things that they had to offer there. I did a major in philosophy, so I had no plans to go to medical school but in the end ended up here. I'm just excited. I'm happy. I'm very happy to be graduating. Definitely a highlight in my life so far. Mistakenly a few times in the hospital I've been called doctor, but I guess after today it'll be for real.

Mr. Christianson: It will take me a little while to get used to seeing him as a doctor. I still see him as my little baby.

Narrator: A baby with a degree in medicine.

With photojournalist Adam Claire, Selva Rivera, Ten News, UCSD.

2003 McGraw-Hill Higher Education
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