“I probably wouldn’t be at Princeton without them…” I remember explaining to two of my friends during lunch after our SML 201 lecture. We were talking about someone I used to be close to, a high school friend who I unfortunately no longer spoke with.

It was a stupid way to lose a friendship. Misunderstanding, unintentional hurt, intentions mismatching impact. And then the silence. 

But even though “not on talking terms” meant I never got a chance to properly thank them, I had to acknowledge I owed a real debt to someone that was no longer a part of my life. 

Recently, I’ve been thinking back on that conversation.

In less than a month, I’ll be receiving my white coat at the HMS/HSDM white coat ceremony. And I’m realizing this trend is happening all over again. 

When we reach milestones in life, we naturally thank the people standing beside us. We thank our parents, siblings, mentors, and friends. Rightfully so. Harvard has this beautiful tradition where every student gives a short speech acknowledging their loved ones who were with them every step of the way. 

But there were so many people who played critical roles in my life that I lost somewhere along the way. Most drifted away naturally. A few ended with painful goodbyes. And it saddens me to think it probably will stay that way.

Isaac Newton once famously wrote, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” In Newton’s case, the giants were the great minds that came before him. In my case, my giants are all of the friends that I lost who shaped me into the person I am today.

I’m writing this blog post since a 20 second white coat speech isn’t nearly long enough to acknowledge all the people I can’t say “thank you” to anymore. 

I’m standing where I am today because at some point, you were standing beside me too.

So cheers to you guys. I’m rooting for you all.

화이팅.

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