Saving the world via medical research or going off to Gobi Desert

The words of Morgan Fairchild—“Saving the world via medical research or going off to Gobi Desert to dust off dinosaur eggs is what I thought I might be doing when I was a kid, and I'd love to bring those interests to a show like 'E.R.' or 'The West Wing,' or a movie like 'Jurassic Park.'”—speak to the dreams of youth and the eternal longing of the soul to unite wonder with purpose. In her reflection, we see the innocence of childhood imagination, the grand visions of heroism, and the desire to weave those visions into storytelling that might inspire others. For to dream of saving the world or uncovering the mysteries of the past is not only the dream of a child—it is the very heartbeat of human aspiration.

From the ancient days, children gazed at the stars or the bones of beasts and imagined themselves as healers, seekers, explorers. The Egyptians dreamed of medicine that could conquer death, while the Greeks wondered at fossils, believing them to be the remains of Titans. In every age, the young are drawn to the frontiers of knowledge—medicine, exploration, science—because they embody the heroic impulse to give life meaning beyond the self. Fairchild’s words capture this universal yearning, while also revealing how those dreams, even if not fulfilled in practice, can live on through art.

The mention of medical research reminds us of those who truly did dream as children and grew to change the world. Jonas Salk, who gave the world the polio vaccine, once said that hope guided his work more than ambition. He dreamed of a world freed from suffering, and through medicine, that dream became reality. In the same way, Fairchild recalls her own childhood vision, not to boast of what was lost, but to remind us of the nobility that lies in the dreams we carry when young: the vision of healing, discovery, and service.

Her words also call upon the spirit of exploration, as in the image of the Gobi Desert, where paleontologists uncovered eggs of dinosaurs, treasures buried in the sands for millions of years. Such quests echo the voyages of explorers like Marco Polo or Charles Darwin, who ventured into the unknown and returned with revelations that reshaped human understanding. Fairchild’s youthful fantasy of brushing sand from an ancient egg reflects not just a child’s wonder, but humanity’s eternal thirst for knowledge hidden in the earth.

By linking these dreams to storytelling—through shows like E.R. or The West Wing, or films like Jurassic Park—Fairchild reveals the bridge between imagination and influence. Not all are destined to be doctors, explorers, or scientists, but through drama and art, their spirit can be brought to millions. In the stories told on screen, audiences can feel the urgency of saving lives, the tension of political decisions, or the awe of scientific discovery. Art becomes the vessel by which childhood dreams continue to serve humanity, not in laboratories or deserts, but in hearts and minds awakened by story.

There is humility and wisdom here: that even if our path diverges from the heroic dreams of youth, those dreams are not wasted. They can shape us, guide our values, and reappear in new forms—through teaching, storytelling, leadership, or compassion. The origin of such dreams lies in the imagination of childhood, but their meaning matures as we find ways to channel them into service, however different from what we first envisioned.

The lesson is this: never cast aside the dreams of your youth, for they carry within them the purest form of your longing for greatness. Even if you do not become the doctor, the explorer, or the scientist, you can still embody their spirit. You can still bring healing, discovery, and inspiration into the world through your own gifts. What matters is not the form the dream takes, but that you live it consciously, allowing it to uplift others.

Practical action lies before us: recall the dreams you carried as a child. Ask how they may yet live in your work, your art, your service. Support those who labor in medicine, science, and exploration, and also honor those who tell their stories. For in every tale of discovery or healing, in every vision of Jurassic Park or The West Wing, lies a reminder that human greatness begins with the dreams of the young and continues with the choices of the grown.

So let Morgan Fairchild’s words stand as a reminder: the dreams of youth never die, they transform. Whether through research, exploration, or storytelling, they find their way into the world, shaping it still. Honor them, nurture them, and share them, for they are the seeds of the future and the legacy of humanity.