Last Tuesday I had a big night: a local book launch for Only 10 Seconds to Care. But I'm saving a post about that magical evening for another day. Today I have to tell you about the speaking event I did Friday morning.
Friday was "Career Day" at Spring Creek Elementary School. Every 30 minutes, from 9 - 11 a.m., I greeted a new group of 4th, 5th and 6th graders who had chosen "doctor" as one of the four careers they wanted to hear about.
Wow, what can I teach these kids in 30 minutes about modern medicine? What do I want to teach them?
First I asked kids to raise their hand if (1) they were positive they wanted to become a doctor or (2) they were positive they did NOT want to become a doctor or (3) they'd consider becoming a doctor. Then I guided the kids to answer these questions:
- What is a doctor?
- What are the main jobs of a doctor?
- Where do you find doctors?
- What are the different kinds of doctors?
- How many years of schooling does it take to become a practicing doctor?
- Why does it take so long?
- What are the good things about being a doctor?
- What are the down sides of being a doctor?
Some observations:
A few kids in each group were more knowledgeable about the life of a doctor. Either one or both of their parents were physicians or they watched Grey's Anatomy.
We talked about doing our best, yet things can go wrong. The joys and burdens of being responsible for another's welfare. The personal sacrifices. The job security (these kids were tuned into the current economic situation). And the difference between work that is boring and work that is meaningful. Students were fascinated by the last two questions and demonstrated impressive insight.
I closed by asking the students to raise their hand if, now, they (1) definitely want to become a doctor, or (2) definitely do NOT want to become a doctor, or (3) would consider becoming a doctor.
What do you think my unscientific little survery showed?
What an interesting post, Wendy. I recall that when my son was in middle school he attended a session much like this; the speaker was a Nephrologist. Although he never expressed any desire to follow in my footsteps and become a doctor, I found it interesting that he attended this particular session. He was quite animated when he told me about what he heard. I would guess that even though many kids didn't think about becoming a doctor, they were snagged by the hook of 'boring work vs meaningful work'. I'd say you probably got most responses in the "definitely" and "would consider" categories and none (?) in the "no way" category after they heard you speak.
Posted by: kate | June 01, 2009 at 07:42 AM