Today was an extremely information-packed day. From our first lecture to our last, and everything in between, we discussed so many important topics that connected not only to healthcare, but also to education and everyday life. The three ideas that stood out to me the most throughout the day were empathy, advocacy, and equity. Even though each lecture focused on a different topic, these three values were consistently emphasized in different ways. I found it interesting how every session connected back to one another, even when the topics themselves seemed very different at first. By the end of the day, I realized how important these values are in both healthcare and education, especially for creating supportive environments where individuals feel valued and understood.
Our first session focused on public health and was led by Sara Zarti. Throughout the lecture, empathy, advocacy, and equity were all intertwined, but the concept that stood out to me the most was equity because I was able to closely relate it to education. Equity means providing individuals with the support they specifically need so that everyone has the same opportunity to succeed. This is different from equality because equality gives everyone the exact same thing, while equity recognizes that people have different needs and challenges. As a future educator, this idea really resonated with me because students all come from different backgrounds, experiences, and learning abilities. Some students may need extra academic support, emotional encouragement, accommodations, or additional resources in order to be successful in the classroom. Equity ensures that students are not left behind simply because they require different forms of support. This lecture helped me realize how important it is for educators to recognize those differences and create inclusive environments where all students can succeed.
The next lecture was arguably my favorite of the entire day. It focused on midwifery and was taught by Natasha and Kim, along with two students currently studying in the program. As someone who was previously a nursing student and once planned to pursue a career as an OBGYN or midwife, I found this session especially intriguing. I have always been interested in women’s healthcare, so hearing directly from professionals and students in the field made the experience even more engaging for me. The energy that the instructors and students brought to the room created such a positive atmosphere that it immediately captured my attention. Their passion for what they do was very evident, and it made the lecture feel exciting rather than overwhelming.
One thing I appreciated about this lecture was how interactive and personal it felt. Instead of simply presenting information from slides, the instructors shared real experiences and examples from their work. This made the session feel more authentic and helped me understand the importance of midwives on a deeper level. My biggest takeaway from this lecture was advocacy. Midwives advocate for mothers by supporting them physically, emotionally, and medically throughout pregnancy and childbirth. They ensure that mothers feel heard, respected, and cared for during such an important moment in their lives. I quickly connected this idea to education because teachers must also advocate for their students. Educators are responsible for making sure students have access to the resources, opportunities, and support systems they need in order to succeed. Advocacy in education may involve speaking up for a student who needs accommodations, emotional support, or even just encouragement. This lecture reminded me that advocacy is not only important in healthcare, but in every profession that involves caring for others.
The third session of the day, led by John Gadsby, focused on mental health. Mental health is such an important topic, especially in today’s society, and I appreciated how honest and informative the discussion was. One fact that I found especially interesting was learning that the number of beds for mental health patients has significantly decreased since the 1950s because it was discovered and believed that mental health hospitals were often worsening patients’ conditions instead of improving them. I had never really thought about how mental healthcare has evolved over time, so this information gave me a completely new perspective.
The core value I took away from this lecture was empathy. Empathy is an extremely important characteristic for educators because it allows teachers to understand students rather than judge them. Instead of creating biases or assumptions about why a student may be struggling academically or behaviorally, teachers should approach situations with compassion and understanding. Students may be dealing with personal struggles, mental health challenges, family issues, or stress that educators are unaware of. Showing empathy allows teachers to build trust with students and create classroom environments where students feel safe and supported. This lecture reminded me that understanding someone’s perspective can make a significant difference in how we respond to them.
To conclude the day, we had a Black history lesson led by Marcia, who was hilarious and kept everyone entertained throughout the session. Even though there were a few technical difficulties in the classroom, she still managed to make the experience enjoyable and engaging. After the discussion, we went on a tour to observe historical monuments around Birmingham. I really enjoyed seeing how the city’s history connected to many of the themes we had discussed earlier in the day. This final lecture emphasized empathy, advocacy, and equity once again, which made it interesting to see how all of the sessions connected together despite covering different topics.
Outside of academics, we ended the day by eating dinner at Jamaya. I had fries with cheese, and they were absolutely delicious. After such a long and busy day, it was nice to relax and spend time with everyone. Before returning to the hotel to get some rest, we also went out for gelato, which was the perfect way to end the night. Overall, this day was filled with activities, learning experiences, and meaningful discussions that gave me new perspectives on several important topics. Even though the day was exhausting, it was also incredibly rewarding. It is only day three, and there is still so much more yet to come. Chamberlain University and the botanical gardens — we are coming for you!
