Professional Hopes and Goals

Week 8:  Professional Hopes and Goals

 

Considering my understanding of diversity, I hope to learn more about others and have a better understanding of their own view of themselves.  My goal is to dispel any assumptions or biases I may have of others and to be a better listener in order to meet the needs of others to learn their wants and needs.  I think it is very important to personally and professionally make it a life-long goal to continue to learn about people and how they view themselves.  In doing so, I would be better equipped in meeting their needs as well as establishing an effective partnership with families and children.  I also feel an equitable teacher makes an honest effort to continually reflect on his/her own personal beliefs and to dispel any biases or assumptions made about others, even if the aforementioned is met with good intentions.  I appreciate my colleagues support in sharing their personal stories of struggles with –isms and ways they have overcome their own biases and discrimination issues.  I also appreciate their value and respect of my own culture and diversity.  Thank you, everyone!  I hope your journeys are long and fruitful!   

Welcoming Families from Around the World

Week 7:  Welcoming Families from Around the World

1.  The name of my family’s country I chose:  Malawi, formerly known as Nyasaland, located in

      Southeastern Africa. 

2.  Five ways to be culturally responsive to my family:

      A.   Get to know more about the country’s economy and education

      B.  Have translators to help me with the primary language spoken: Chichewa, of which over 57% of

            the population speaks.

     C.  Learn more about the country’s culture

     D.  Learn more about the demographics of the country

     E.  Find out ways I can support the families and children of whom I will be working within the

           Community. 

     These preparations will work towards benefitting my family in many ways.  By learning more about this country’s economy I would learn that this country is one of the least developed countries and has a struggling economy dependent of foreign aid.  In addition, I would also learn that this country entitles its people to at least five years of primary education by its government and an effort has been made to improve literacy skills, access to more educational materials, and programs to feed children.  I would also be aware of the need for translator because 12% of the population speak English and I would need to communicate verbally if the family did not speak English and try to learn some of their primary language.  I would also learn that this country has a rich culture in dance and soccer.  This information is useful in possibly engaging the family to teach me about their dance and play soccer with them.  I would also know this country has a population of 15 million people.  Approximately 68, 000 deaths per year from AID/HIV with a life expectancy of around 50 years old and a high infant mortality rate due to high risk of infectious diseases, poor gender equality, and maternal mortality.  This information can be used to educate the family to promote better health conditions and education.  Overall, I think it is important to work with families and children by not only learning about their country, but to also ask them what they want and need for their children and to find ways in which I can support them through my knowledge and other services and resources. 

 

The personal side of biases, prejudices, and oppression

Blog 6:

Ageism is something I have witnessed from time to time while working with my new boss.  I worked with my former boss for many years before he retired at 67 years of age.  My current boss is in his early 30’s and some of our patients have commented on his looks.  I have heard, “Wow, you look so young!” Are you sure you are a doctor?”  and “You are a baby!” “Is today your first day as a doctor?”  I never really thought about ageism much nor that it was an issue with discrimination for those people considered younger.  Whenever I notice the doctor feeling bad about some of these comments, I will often say, “Wow, my feelings are hurt!”  “I am not being told how nice I look.”  I feel comfortable saying this to my patients because I know them well enough to say just about anything tactfully to them.  I feel that these patients who have made comments regarding how young the doctor looks, are not trying to be mean or hurtful.  I think they were just accustomed to having a former doctor who was much older than the current doctor and they are taken aback.  By learning more about ageism, I am more aware of it occurring with younger people and older people.  I have learned that our society values youth to a certain degree as well as being older to a certain degree.  Youth is great, so long as it doesn’t make one question another person’s experience and/or expertise.