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Ten sets of eyes looked at me in anticipation of what I would have to say. After two years living abroad in Mexico as an entrepreneur, it was my first day back in a college classroom as Professor Lindsay. The students in my class were there because of the challenges they faced to meet academic standards. On this first meeting, I wanted to remind them of their reasons for beginning medical school and encourage their best efforts moving forward.
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I am responsible for teaching medical students how to pass their courses while also maintaining healthy personal lives. My work involves facilitating small group sessions, advising students, serving on campus committees, conducting research, and completing writing projects. In the last week, I also observed classes where I witnessed students grapple with multiple choice questions in preparation for a critical test that determines medical residency options.
As someone with an educational background, and a fan of Brazilian philosopher Paulo Freire, I have found my new role challenging.
In many of Freire’s writings, he discussed the importance of pedagogy that extended beyond standardized tests and led to application in the real world. Before my current position, I taught students with the intention to prepare them for success that exceeded the memorization required to pass multiple choice exams.
As an Assistant Professor in an education department at a medical college, I am responsible for helping students achieve success in the various facets of their lives. But the priority at this level is preparation for a high performance on a standardized exam.
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During my first week of classes, I helped facilitate a classroom exercise where students were asked to share a challenging multiple choice question or concern on the board. The goal of this activity was to begin building community in the classroom to establish each other as resources, and to offer an additional opportunity to answer difficult problems.
With each question presented for the class to solve, I asked the students to explain the concept to me as they would to a five-year-old boy.
The challenge I offered students I had received from a professor of mine when I was in college. He told me, “You don’t know anything until you can explain a complex concept to a student in Kindergarten.” It was his way of encouraging other students and me to master difficult concepts, while also maintaining the skill to communicate to people with multiple education experiences.
The ability to express complicated ideas in simple terms is a skill that requires consistent training. As students prepare for their professions, I ask them to remain mindful of the population they want to help. A successful doctor can communicate in the language of their colleagues and patients.
The communication skill to keep things simple may not find its way to a multiple choice exam. But it is essential for long-term success.
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As I probed the students about their reasons for attending medical school and pushed them to break down complicated terms into everyday language, I thought about my own responsibilities.
Today is my final article as a weekly columnist for The Good Men Project.
When I started writing for The Good Men Project, it was a goal of mine to use the platform for reaching a larger audience to engage in critical discussions about race and masculinity. Through my consistent weekly submissions over the past year, I believe that I have achieved my goal.
Now it is time to focus my efforts on other projects more aligned with my current responsibilities. I am approaching the submission deadline for my second book, becoming acclimated to my new role at a university, and adjusting to the change in lifestyle of Antigua and Barbuda. It’s important that I simplify other areas of my life.
Although this is my last weekly submission, it is possible to maintain contact with me via social media and my website. To continue your journey guided by many of the philosophies I expressed in this column over the past year, enroll in my course and buy your copy of my book.
Thank you for taking the time to read my column. I wish you much success in your personal and professional life.
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