If I’m being completely honest, your post brought tears to my eyes. It pains me knowing people can be so inconsiderate, and in some instances…downright rude. “So you’re all better now?” Would they prefer for you to be in a *constant* state of pain to prove that your struggle is real? Are people truly unable to show any mercy–and be happy for you on the days the days when things are a little more bearable?

I am still a little unclear on the “Spoon Theory,” sorry! Is it that each category will take x amount of spoons of energy per task OR does getting out of bed, taking pills, getting dressed, and watching TV collectively take one spoon of energy? It seems like the former, but I just want to be sure!

Thanks for the post, Farha! I like that you took the time to describe the concepts of intellectual based and identity-based diversity. If I’m not mistaken, in the post Sara referenced by Katherine Phillips, there are some examples of identity-based diversity contributing to innovation. One cool example was about students of different ethnic backgrounds sharing more information with one another to solve a murder mystery, whereas groups of the same ethnicity withheld more information under the assumption that they had the same knowledge. I haven’t decided if this is always a good thing, if your assumption of a person of a different background has *less* knowledge as opposed to *different* knowledge.

Knowledge and preparation aren’t enough for me either. In a sense, I feel like I knew I wanted to be a teacher before I knew I wanted to teach. Growing up however, being a teacher never seemed like enough to live a comfortable life. Teachers have it bad. In middle, I discovered environmental engineering and thought it sounded like an incredible profession. At some point in time in undergrad, when I starting to think about grad school, then what I would with with a graduate degree…it’s like my passion for teaching and solving environmental problems came together when I decided I wanted to be a professor. As I go further in my education, I realize that the priority for teaching is just not there in research-focused institutions. I don’t think doing research and teaching “on the side” is enough for me—because how will I actually find the time to properly invest to prepare a meaningful class where I consider all the proficiencies, deficiencies, and curiosites of my students? (I love the language you chose there. Had to steal.)

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The question you posed at the end really sums it up for me: “What kind of professor do I want to be vs what kind should I be?” To be taken seriously is critical, especially for students who are right on the cusp of being mature adults (and let’s be honest some of them never mature). On the other hand, being relatable helps students better relate the material as they begin to see the “master” was once in their shoes.
In regards to how you joke or what’s appropriate to say in class, you could always consider how you would feel if everyone’s roles were reversed (e.g., if your male professor played a certain video in a class of all females—how it would make you feel).

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Cherice,

I went to a small panel last year of professors, both on the tenure-track. One in particular had put in about 5 years at the time. She absolutely felt that her students tended to come to her often with their problems (e.g., personal, academic, emotional). She seemed very frustrated by this, not because she didn’t want to help, but mainly because her male colleagues weren’t burdened in the same way. She said her technique was to ask some students if they sought anyone else’s help before coming to her, then directing them that way. I hope I don’t struggle with striking a balance, because I believe I would feel obligated to be there for whoever knocks on my door.

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*round of applause for paragraph five*
My thoughts exactly! In my opinion, you nailed the key questions for me. The question that I ask, that I don’t necessarily get an answer to: what does a given university require from a course? I think most classes I have taken at least have two exams, with various levels of difficulty—for instance open note/everything. Are these teachers trying to beat the system? I’m not certain.

Thank you for the captivating post. Much of what you said (horses, disengaged workers, etc.) actually reminded me of the movie “Sorry to Bother You.” I don’t want to spoil anything, because it gets pretty crazy. You should check it out.

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I did not realize the first paragraph contained *any* hyperlinks. Thank you, Dr. Nelson! It’s 7:55 AM, so perhaps I am already awake?

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Devin, you raised some good points. In regards to the SAT, the instructions are usually that the test-taker choose the “best” answer out of the 4-5 choices. Like you were saying, in real life there are multiple options that result in various consequences. And no. We don’t always make the “best” choice. Wouldn’t it be nice if students could actually justify why they actually selected any particular answer?

You mentioned your experience in math. I would say that is how it has been in most of my engineering exams. Because it is about the grade for the student, my instructors complain students often write down unnecessary equations/information that do not actually demonstrate their ability to master the material.

I found it really interesting when you spoke of historians teaching students the complicated and contested nature of the past. I think as a person of color, specifically in America, one often does not really takes what he/she learns in history class at face value. Primarily because he/she has loved ones who tell them that’s just one side of the story. As people of color were considered second-class citizens for such a large part of history, they are hesitant to believe that their side of the story is ever properly told. I see this as more mindful. This is a thought process that is found all over their culture, even hip hop.

When I read this, a quote one of my favorite rappers, J Cole, came to mind:
“And the curriculum be tricking them, them dollars I spend
Got us learning about the heroes with the whitest of skin
One thing about the men that’s controlling the pen
That write history, they always seem to white-out they sins”

This can apply to any situation where the people of power write history, not just white and black folks in America.