The Challenge Of Research
In 1989 the Connecticut Rubber Group awarded a
Scholarship to Timothy J. Hong. Timothy is the son
of Dr. Sung W. Hong, Research Fellow,
Performance Chemicals & Elastomers Division at
Crompton Uniroyal Chemical. The following is the
essay Timothy submitted with his application. After
reading his essay you will be pleased to know that
he is now Dr. Timothy J. Hong, M.D. He is
married to Joy Kingston and has two daughters,
Catriona 4 years old and Madeleine 1 year old. The
Hong family resides in Glastonbury, Ct and Timothy
is a physician in the Medical Oncology Division of
Hartford Hospital’s Medical Department, in the
Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Center. Timothy
graduated Harvard University ’91 A. B., Yale
University School of Medical ’95 M.D.,
Internships/Residencies at Yale -New Haven
Hospital Internal Medicine’95-98, and Fellowship
Duke University Hospital Hematology/Oncology
’99-02).
THE CHALLENGE OF RESEARCH
“Grandfather, what is research?”
“Research is challenge.”
A short time before his death, I asked my grandfather this question, and thought that he would give me an explicit answer because he was a research scientist himself in electrical engineering. However, his terse response confused me at the time. It was after much work in biology and synthetic chemistry, when I realized how accurate his answer was. Challenge is multifaceted in its definition, and is the very essence of my grandfather’s life, whose life I attempt to emulate. So what is challenge, and how was my grandfather’s life a challenge.
Challenge is audacity. When my grandfather was young, he lived under Japanese domination in a war torn Korea. Because of the state of insubordination, the quality of life as well as education was poor in Korea. Not satisfied with his education, as a young teen, he ran away to Japan to receive a higher education. All alone in a foreign land with no money, he boldly faced his many difficulties. This is challenge. Taking risks leads to broad expanses of possibilities in research such as exploring the human genome or synthesizing anti-cancer agents. Progress such as this would improve the welfare of the human race.
Challenge is also excellence. Having to learn a new language, he became a top student in a land which places emphasis on education. He gained respect, because, to the Japanese, a Tokyo University student is the paragon of a scholar, brilliant as well as hard working. For me, academics and research is a challenge. Not satisfied with mediocrity, I pursue excellence.
The pursuit to excellence takes patience. Oftentimes my grandfather’s projects have not worked well. A perfect outcome does not come immediately. I understand this well. In purifying a newly synthesized compound, I have to use chromatography or recrystallization to purify the compound. This process of purification sometimes takes weeks to produce a gram of material. Research takes patience, and also persistence.
Persistence is another aspect of challenge, which my grandfather has been a prime example. Suffering from cancer, my grandfather remained active in his pursuit of knowledge. After he had spent much time and effort in learning English in his old age, he continued to keep up with the latest progress in electrical engineering, even until his death. Following his example, I believe that there is no challenge too stubborn that I even consider giving up.
With audacity, excellence, patience, and persistence, I strive toward the top of the research world. Following my grandfather’s life as an example, I will struggle with the many challenges that lie ahead.
Yet, as important as the challenge I find in research, I must have humanity in my approach. I dedicate my life to research not for my own personal gain, but for the improvement of life for the people of the world. That is what the product of research should be.
Ralph
Ralph Annicelli, Historian
“Grandfather, what is research?”
“Research is challenge.”
A short time before his death, I asked my grandfather this question, and thought that he would give me an explicit answer because he was a research scientist himself in electrical engineering. However, his terse response confused me at the time. It was after much work in biology and synthetic chemistry, when I realized how accurate his answer was. Challenge is multifaceted in its definition, and is the very essence of my grandfather’s life, whose life I attempt to emulate. So what is challenge, and how was my grandfather’s life a challenge.
Challenge is audacity. When my grandfather was young, he lived under Japanese domination in a war torn Korea. Because of the state of insubordination, the quality of life as well as education was poor in Korea. Not satisfied with his education, as a young teen, he ran away to Japan to receive a higher education. All alone in a foreign land with no money, he boldly faced his many difficulties. This is challenge. Taking risks leads to broad expanses of possibilities in research such as exploring the human genome or synthesizing anti-cancer agents. Progress such as this would improve the welfare of the human race.
Challenge is also excellence. Having to learn a new language, he became a top student in a land which places emphasis on education. He gained respect, because, to the Japanese, a Tokyo University student is the paragon of a scholar, brilliant as well as hard working. For me, academics and research is a challenge. Not satisfied with mediocrity, I pursue excellence.
The pursuit to excellence takes patience. Oftentimes my grandfather’s projects have not worked well. A perfect outcome does not come immediately. I understand this well. In purifying a newly synthesized compound, I have to use chromatography or recrystallization to purify the compound. This process of purification sometimes takes weeks to produce a gram of material. Research takes patience, and also persistence.
Persistence is another aspect of challenge, which my grandfather has been a prime example. Suffering from cancer, my grandfather remained active in his pursuit of knowledge. After he had spent much time and effort in learning English in his old age, he continued to keep up with the latest progress in electrical engineering, even until his death. Following his example, I believe that there is no challenge too stubborn that I even consider giving up.
With audacity, excellence, patience, and persistence, I strive toward the top of the research world. Following my grandfather’s life as an example, I will struggle with the many challenges that lie ahead.
Yet, as important as the challenge I find in research, I must have humanity in my approach. I dedicate my life to research not for my own personal gain, but for the improvement of life for the people of the world. That is what the product of research should be.
Ralph Annicelli, Historian