Education: University of Virginia
Randolph Macon Medical School
Abstract: For Wai Shat Lee, being a first generation college student meant supporting his
entire family. Wai was born 4-20-1951 in Canton China. He is the second
oldest amongst three sisters. His parents raised him and his sisters on a farm.
When he was ten years old Wai’s father was sent to prison by the Chinese government. Wai's mother was forced, due to financial problems, to care for his sisters
while he had to live with his maternal grandmother. She disliked Wai very much and would not assist him with enrolling in school. As a ten year old boy
Wai had a job and was paying for school.
The work ethic he learned at a young age helped him during his academic career. His grandmother’s dislike towards Wai sparked the fuel for him to excel. He
eventually used everyone's criticism and negativity as his motivation. When he
was in high school his high scores and grades helped him to find sponsors, such as Mr. Blikney, that would sponsor him to go to the United States.
Once in the
United States he attended the University of Virginia. He graduated from UVA and went to the Randolph Macon Medical School. Wai married during his time
in medical school and upon completion of his residency in New Jersey he and
his wife moved to Fresno and raised two boys. Wai believes to this day that
the adversity that he faced led him to be the man,
husband, and father he is today.
Wai takes nothing for granted and does not forget the sacrifices his mother and father made for him. They did not have
much to give but what his parents offered him has no comparison in monetary
value. By becoming a successful doctor in the United States he exceeded the
expectations of his blue-collar working class parents. He raised his own
socioeconomic status and in doing so raised it for his whole family, because
he was the first to attend college and leave with a well paying white-collar
job.
Keywords: work ethic, China, mentor, family, blue-collar
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