Sometimes it works.
I teach human dissection anatomy in the summers here at Large WestCoast State Research University, and it’s one of my favorite classes to teach. Anatomy is my favorite subject because the information doesn’t change a lot from year to year (they don’t find a whole lot of new organs) so you can really concentrate on the teaching, and let’s face it, playing with dead bodies is kind of neat. This class is only 30 students, and they’re mostly pre-meds. At the end of the class I give my famous ‘rant’ where basically I try and put a little bit of reality into their brains about what they’re getting into, and hopefully turn off a few of the ones that definitely should NOT be doctors. The main message is that there are students who get A’s in my classes who I never want to see over me when I wake up in an emergency room because they either can’t think for themselves (they can just take tests) or they don’t really care about the subject (they’re just doing it for the prestige or because their parents want them to do it or whatever); and there are students who get B’s or even C’s in my classes who I know will make phenomenal doctors because they actually care and can actually think critically.
Today I got a thank you card from one of the students in the class for writing her a letter of recommendation. I reprint it here in it’s entirety (the names have been change to protect the innocent):
Dr. (Miocyon),
Thank you so much for your letter of rec! As a professor you have had more of an impact on me than anyone else at (Large WestCoast State Research University). Your concern for student learning & fun personality help you earn the utmost respect from your students. I’m so grateful that you “ranted” about what it takes to be a doctor because I’m often discouraged because I fall into the category of an average student, but I truly care about helping people get the care they need and deserve. So thank you for your advice, encouragement, knowledge, humor and passion. You are by far the most refreshing part of (dept. I teach in). Thanks again!
(grateful student)
