 |
 |
|
||
|
||
|
|
|
Chris, Brigham Young University. I consider myself a pretty easygoing person. I usually don't take offense to what others say to me that may not coincide with my understanding of a particular topic or my personal feelings. I usually just chalk it up to ignorance - and I hope others would do the same for me, because I know I act ignorant myself. But a discussion I had with one of my professors recently really struck a chord and, to be honest, left me feeling truly disappointed. Allow me to explain by sharing a little bit of history, or at least my interpretation of history. As you drive onto campus at the university I am attending there is a sign for everyone to see - "Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve". I guess you could call it the university motto. I imagine most universities have a creed--or something close to it--that instills a sense of pride and motivation. Maybe even a desire for students to really invest themselves in their education and get out in the world and make a difference. After chalking my high school experience up to a great time, but nothing that I would consider motivational or life changing, I was excited to enter the world of higher education. At the beginning of college there was, for me, a new feeling of possibility. There was a sense of idealism - a sense of hope. I have a desire, or dream if you will, to make a difference. As I entered college, I was looking forward to learning the things I needed to about my particular field of interest, combine that education with my own unique abilities and motivational drive, and really make a difference. I was definitely taken by surprise when most of my first year classes had anywhere from 300-800 students enrolled, which, of course, was quite a difference from high school. I was looking forward to becoming more acquainted with and having more respect for my college professors than I did for most of my high school teachers. This, unfortunately, did not happen. Being at a large university I guess it made sense that there would be some huge classes. I just decided that is the way it would be until I entered my major and then the classes would change. Or at least, maybe, the professor might know my name. Again, to my surprise, upon entering my major classes, the classes were much smaller, averaging about 30 or 40, but unless I went out of my way there was not even a sign that the professor really cared. They came, they lectured, and then they left. Now I do not claim that every professor has been like this, to do so would be foolish, but I have found it to be a fair majority. So when I found one of my professors who seemed to care and wanted to make a difference, I was excited for the opportunity to work with him. This is the professor mentioned at the beginning of this essay. After accepting me to help out with a research project, he asked me what I was planning on doing after graduating, just being cordial and finding out a little bit more about me I guess. I jumped at the opportunity to share my thoughts. Because of his experience, I was hoping for some information and insight, encouragement, and possibilities. This is what I needed and expected from him. I have thought and prayed about what it is I plan to do long and hard, trying to narrow down where my talents and desires would be of best service to my fellow man. What I received, instead, was a subtle response that was fairly close to a small snicker. He didn't have to say anything I could feel it - "Another dreamer trying to change the world. Best of luck (hee-hee-hee)!" I didn't know what to say. It's not that I cannot handle criticism, I've had plenty of people stop short of laughing at me, but I guess it disappointed me just because I expected more. Again, maybe idealistically, I expected more. Maybe not standing ovations or a toast to my future, but some expression of possibility and support, especially from someone who has accomplished as much as my professor. Long ago others might have considered him a dreamer or an idealist. Instead, he decided to let me know the realities of what the real world is like, just to prepare me. But in his preparing me for what lay ahead, it did not seem he was preparing me to hopefully succeed, but preparing me to ultimately fail. To me, that is where the problem lies. I don't mind somebody with experience and insight helping me to become aware of the different pitfalls and bumps in the roads that will come, the so-called realities. On the contrary, I believe this can be very beneficial. It is the attitude that you share it with me that will make a difference. It is the difference between encouragement and discouragement. It is like placing a false dilemma in somebody's path. It is false because it is perceived that there are only two choices possible. The one I received from my professor, 1) either you conform and do what everybody else has done and have some success and security, or 2) you try to do something different and prepare for the worst. Either you choose this road with this outcome or you can take this other road with a different outcome. Again, maybe I'm a little to idealistic, but there is never just one way or the other. As moral beings we have the gift of agency, which I believe is one of the only things that luckily set us apart from the animals. We can choose, and with that choice comes possibilities. We do not have to sit back and take our piece of the pie as it is handed to us. For lack of space I have left out what it is I plan to do, the dreams and goals I shared with my professor. This vision, I believe, is lofty. And if for whatever reason I do not see it come true, or give up, or quit; it's my fault, my responsibility. I have no reason to blame those, like my professor, who think I am crazy. He does not make my choices for me and is entitled to his opinion, just like anybody else. But, from a moral standpoint, I would hope that he would want to care for and encourage me to make a difference and help create a change for the better, especially if it is outside what might be considered normal procedure. To those professors at institutions of higher education whose purpose is to teach and inspire, I believe you have a moral responsibility to motivate your students about the difference they can make, instead of the dilemmas they may face. You may not believe that your input makes a difference; that students just sleep during your class anyway. Well some might, but I believe most don't. As students, we know professors are not superhuman and cannot do it all, and we do not expect you to. With all the understanding and experience you have there is one thing we would hope you could take the time to share with us. Information we can get from a book, what we need from you is to show us the possibilities instead of the probabilities. |
|
|||
|
|||
|
