Teaching Tales: My Amazing Students

A Variety of Students

On the first day of the fall cell biology class at NVCC, my attention was drawn to a bright-eyed, attractive Persian student, Neshat. Seated in the front of the class, she nodded in comprehension when a concept registered, smiled at my jokes, and was always the first to raise her hand to answer a question.

Next to her was a plump, serious-looking lady, Maureen, who looked about 50 years old. Maureen also paid rapt attention, furiously writing everything down.

Just behind them, a bespectacled young man, Adam, appeared to have come straight from work. He was wearing a shirt and a tie. When class started, he pulled out his laptop and typed in his notes.

A highly organized single mother of three, Shanice, who had a dream of becoming a doctor, rivaled him. She always came with a wheeled suitcase containing her books, folder, and of course, a laptop.

At the back of the class, pacing up and down to stay awake, was the night watchman, Mwenye.

 The Young Student

Immediately after the introductory lecture, Neshat came forward and stood by my desk, waiting until I had finished putting away my things. “Dr. Crocker, I want to thank you for teaching us. I’m looking forward to learning biology from you. Please, could you tell me how I can do well in your class?” She flashed me a shy smile.

“Just do the work suggested in the syllabus. Be sure you’re prepared for the vocabulary quizzes, read the chapters, study for the tests, and come to the study groups.”

“Will that be enough? I really want to go to medical school, and I need good grades.”

“Don’t worry. Most students who work hard do well. It’s those who come late, sleep during class, and rarely study who fail.”

“Oh, I’ll work hard. I like biology…it is so interesting.”

 The Tired Student

Next in line was Mwenye. In heavily accented English, he said, “Dr. Crocker, I work nights and go to school during the day. It is hard to wake. But I want better job one day.”

“It’s quite all right with me if you need to walk around at the back of class to stay awake. But I you can’t hope to do your best work if you’re so tired. Is it possible to cut down on your hours?”

He shook his head, “I have wife and two children to support. I want do more than a security job. It is difficult…”

“I admire you for trying. Do what you have to; I’ll not object.”

As I predicted, that semester Mwenye’s performance in the course was not consistent with the level of ability that he displayed in his interactions with his classmates and me. However, he did pass and eventually got a degree.

 The Mother

I didn’t have a chance to speak with Shanice until I saw her in the hallway before the first lab, “I love that book bag on wheels. It’s such a good idea. I think I’ll get one.”

Shanice smiled wearily, “I use all my energy just to manage school, work, and three little ones. This may be unfashionable, but it helps. That’s all I care about.”

We entered the lab together. “What do you do with your kids while you’re at school?”

“Oh, my mom helps. I couldn’t do it without her. She believes in me and thinks I can get into medical school. I’m going to try not to disappoint her.”

I stopped to take in Shanice’s air of quiet determination and the intelligence that was evident in her face. “You know, from what I see so far, I don’t think you will.”

Shanice didn’t disappoint anyone. She was so determined that she even brought her children to class when she couldn’t get a babysitter. Shanice achieved the highest grade in the class, and I had the privilege of writing a recommendation for her admittance into medical school.

 The Older Student

Maureen was the student who showed me the power of grueling determination and extreme effort. She had returned to school after raising her family and found the course extraordinarily difficult. Her last science course was more than 20 years ago. At first, I was somewhat disconcerted to see tears running down her face as I explained a complex concept to the class, but I was to become accustomed to it. She told me that it seemed as if she had no sooner learned one subject than I introduced another. Maureen did not give up. Her dream was to be a nurse, and sheer hard work got her there.

My students inspired me then, and they still do.