NEW YORK - A former New York City cop takes on a new challenge, and it is not small. He became a doctor, and made with a learning disabili...
NEW YORK -
A former New York City cop takes on a new challenge, and it is not small. He became a doctor, and made with a learning disability, have to do while."I wanted to be a doctor, fireman or police," says PhD student Christian Saffran.
Two of the three. Not bad, but instead of a fireman, the scientist Christian life adds Journal.
"The streets, the higher education were involved, with the life on Mars or something attached, a complete fantasy and saw much of my life in this way, was the University for other people, it was for smart people," Christian said.
His journey is unconventional and continue to take shape. You see, made Christian history. At 45 he is the oldest person ever gotten in the MD / Ph.D .. program at Weill Cornell Medical.
Only 18 students are accepted. Nearly 600 apply.
"Well, my full-time job was to learn," Christian said. "What I thought I could never do that, it was very exciting, I'm a kid in a candy store."
But things have not always been so sweet. As a child, Christian was diagnosed with ADHD and visual memory impairment. He struggled to read.
"I grew up thinking that I was smart, had a couple of teachers who supported the idea," he said.
Christian then joined the NYPD and ends one with the name of the street, Dread infiltrated be narc.
WEB EXTRA: see a long interview with Christian
Her daughter was born Alorah soon.
"It was more difficult to be the father, he wanted to be, and wanted, but so obviously not to be a police officer a choice to do it," Christian said.
It was a private detective. Then a crucial moment. Alorah was diagnosed with a learning disability.
Christian has received more support as a child. It bloomed.
He thought that maybe, just maybe he could do more.
He did: He graduated from Columbia University with a cum laude degree in biophysics.
Now this, the next chapter of his life.
His advice for others who, as it were, paralyzed by doubt: "If you have a mountain in front of you, you can demonstrate your ability to overcome this mountain to climb this mountain, you," he said. "Start at the top of the mountain, as the people to convince a climber are."
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