A professor in my past semester at college left a very powerful idea with me, one that I think can really benefit a lot of people on this board.
I walked into my first day of Anatomy & Physiology this past semester, and I was nervous. I sat in the front of the class and waited for a professor who was deemed one of the toughest at my school, but also one of the most well liked. I didn't know what to expect of him, or the course other than the psyche out I was getting on this board about how hard A&P was.
In walked a laid back guy in his mid-30's, he had a smile on and was looking over what were now his students. I thought for sure he was sizing us up, and his first question was, "How many of you work?" A majority of the class raised their hands, he nodded.
"How many of you have kids?" Some kept their hands up, and some new hands joined those in the air.
The professor nodded again, "How many of you guys are victims?"
One girl asked what I was trying to figure out in my own head,
"Uh, victims of what?"
The professor took a seat and begin to lay out, what I now believe every professor should lay out at the beginning of a course.
He introduced us to what some of you in the education community know as Victim vs. Creator language. He said the people who complain about the course, make excuses for why they aren't doing well, and unfavorably compare themselves to other will be the 50% of the class that drops.
He let us know that to do well in something you must take on full personal responsibility. Sure, you can have a bad professor, but in the end, it's not about the professor. It's about you mastering material and your dedication to it. If you know the subject inside and out, it doesn't matter what is put on an exam, if you create a wealth of information and truly understand concepts, you'll do fine.
If you make excuses about work or kids affecting your success in school, stop! If work or kids are taking up too much of your time, than maybe it's not the right time to focus on school. Things come up, but if you don't meet it head on an create a solution then you won't succeed.
If you always say you're not smart enough, or studious enough, than you won't be. If negative thoughts occupy your mind, there will be a negative output in your work.
If you're comparing yourself to the top students unfavorably, you're hurting yourself. Instead make friends with those students, emulate them, what are they doing that you aren't?
I get so bummed out when I get on these boards and I see many of you being victims. I know I sometimes think if I had a dollar for every time I saw some of you posting that you're not smart enough, or that some professor wronged you, or work or kids or other classes got in the way... well I could probably pay for my education right now.
Based on these board the environment of future nurses of America may be people who "just got by." Of people who are victims of their circumstance.
Personally, I want to be in the company of nurses who are creators. People who aren't victims of their situation, but people who create solutions. People who seek help from those who are more skilled, people who turn complaints into structured requests. Most importantly, people who are self-aware and strive to constantly improve themselves. My hope is that I am surrounded by these people so that we can improve the lives of others.
Hopefully awareness is raised about this, I just want success for everyone who feels like I do for the profession.
