“First of all, Mr. Harrison,” I began, my voice sharp with boldness and bitterness, “age does not define a person’s career. If someone is born for something, they start excelling in it from a very young age. You can go to every school I have attended and visit every place I have lived, and the people there will tell you the same thing—I have always been the one treating people, even using local herbs when nothing else was available.”

My chest tightened with frustration, but I kept my voice steady.

“Secondly,” I went on, “I know how important a human life is. That was the first lesson I learned the...