How Small Moments Shape Big Dreams

A peculiar encounter with a boy who made my day a little better.

Field work days usually follow a predictable rhythm: travel, data collection, interviews, and the occasional muddy detour. But every now and then, something unexpected reminds me why I love what I do.

Yesterday, while parked in a remote barangay, a little boy approached me with eyes full of wonder.

“Ate, ang ganda ng sasakyan mo! Ang kislap! Anong trabaho mo?” (Hey, your car is so shiny! What do you do for a living?)

For my non-Filipino readers, this is quite unusual as some (or most) kids do not usually approach strangers.

I smiled. “Doctor po.”

He turned to his mom, whispering loudly enough for me to hear:

“Ma, pag ganon ba madaming pera?” (Mom, does that job make a lot of money?)

Before his mom could reply, he nodded with confidence.

“Magiging ganon na lang ako pag laki ko!” (I'm going to be like that when I grow up!), he said.

I laughed and said, “Nako di madali ha, kailangan mag-aral ka nang mabuti” (It’s not easy, you have to study hard.)

With a grin, he said, “Okay lang yun sus! Ako nga yung top 1 sa daycare namin!” (That's okay I'm the top student at our daycare!)

His mom chuckled and added, “Dalawa lang po kasi sila sa klase.” (There are only two of them in the class.)

We all laughed, but behind that funny little moment was something oddly profound.

As I drive towards the place where I spent the night, I can’t help but think about that encounter. Here are the three things I learned:

1. Small moments can spark big dreams

That boy didn’t see years of medical training, the long field hours, or the piles of reports in my bag.
He just saw a car that gleamed under the afternoon sun, and a person who seemed happy with her work.

Sometimes, that’s all it takes to plant a dream in someone’s mind: a brief encounter, a passing comment, a symbol of what’s possible.

We never really know when we’re becoming part of someone’s story.

2. Kids mirror what they see, not what they’re told

What struck me was how quickly he decided on his future. He didn’t ask for advice or a step-by-step guide.
He just saw something he admired and thought, I want that too.

It reminded me that influence often happens through example, not explanation. The way we carry ourselves, like our work ethic, our kindness, our joy, speaks louder than any speech we could give.

3. Field work is about people, not just data

I went there to collect numbers and fill out forms. But what I carried home that day wasn’t just data. It was a story, a laugh, and a reminder that purpose lives in everyday interactions.

In research, we talk about “qualitative insights.” But sometimes, the most meaningful insights don’t fit neatly into survey sheets. They’re found in conversations, in kindness, in moments that make us smile.

That child may never remember my name or what a physician-researcher even does.
But maybe, just maybe, he’ll remember that doctors can be approachable, funny, and yes—drive shiny cars.

✨🚗

And for me, it was a reminder that impact doesn’t always happen in hospitals, classrooms, or conferences. Sometimes it happens in a dusty barangay road, sparked by a child’s curiosity and a car that happened to catch the light just right.