Recently got asked one of those default interview questions about "Name someone who inspires you".
I've always struggled with these questions, as I'm not one to put people on pedestals. But then I remembered someone who legitimately inspired me in every way
A former student of mine
1/15
verita84
in reply to Dean Burnett (that brains guy) • • •Dean Burnett (that brains guy)
in reply to Dean Burnett (that brains guy) • • •Context: this was when I was a tutor/lecturer for an online MSc Psychiatry programme. Thanks to the nature of the course, we had multiple students from different countries, cultures, backgrounds, education levels, and, yes, personalities.
It was my job to coordinate and mentor them all. Fun.
2/15
Dean Burnett (that brains guy)
in reply to Dean Burnett (that brains guy) • • •3/15
Dean Burnett (that brains guy)
in reply to Dean Burnett (that brains guy) • • •Remember, this MSc programme was entirely online. That's how she was able to do it in the first place. But she was practicing medicine in one of the remote rural regions of India, going from isolated community to isolated community. By herself.
So yeah, not the easiest workload
4/15
Dean Burnett (that brains guy)
in reply to Dean Burnett (that brains guy) • • •But her duties meant she only had reliable internet access for one day out of seven.
Remember, this was a postgraduate-level psychiatry course. Even a part-time schedule (which this was) involved many hours of videos, reading, and assignments per week. Doing all that in one day? Dubious.
5/15
Dean Burnett (that brains guy)
in reply to Dean Burnett (that brains guy) • • •However, given that her goal was to provide some form of mental healthcare to communities for whom running water was an unimaginable luxury, I was inclined to provide any and all support for her situation that I could.
But I admit I was still sceptical about her chances of not dropping out
6/15
Dean Burnett (that brains guy)
in reply to Dean Burnett (that brains guy) • • •7/15
Dean Burnett (that brains guy)
in reply to Dean Burnett (that brains guy) • • •So, first term is underway,the first set of assessments are submitted
And... she passes. With flying colours. Literally top marks. Wow
But this term covers 'the basics', so to speak. She's a qualified working medic. When we get into the newer, more complex stuff, then we'll see how she copes
8/15
Dean Burnett (that brains guy)
in reply to Dean Burnett (that brains guy) • • •And... they're exemplary. Again. Some of the highest marks of the whole year group. From one day of study per week, in really challenging circumstances. This woman must be superhuman, I thought.
9/15
Dean Burnett (that brains guy)
in reply to Dean Burnett (that brains guy) • • •The next term, and every term from then on, she's one of our best ever students. Occasionally asking questions, but purely to clarify ambiguous things, never because she didn't understand anything.
But then, the final term. Dissertation time!
10/15
Dean Burnett (that brains guy)
in reply to Dean Burnett (that brains guy) • • •With minimal handholding, she submits her dissertation, based on the patients she sees in remote communities in rural India (with their consent).
Again, it's stellar work. The sort of Masters dissertation where you're actively looking for things to criticise, because they're not obvious.
11/15
Dean Burnett (that brains guy)
in reply to Dean Burnett (that brains guy) • • •Final results are published. She passes with a distinction. An incredible achievement at the best of times.
I emailed her directly, to congratulate her. Her response:
"Thank you so much. This is wonderful news. Just in time for my 78th birthday. What a gift!"
... ... ... ... 😲
12/15
Dean Burnett (that brains guy)
in reply to Dean Burnett (that brains guy) • • •I rarely met students in person, especially those further afield. And I tended not to probe into their personal detail. I had no idea as to her age.
She even said "My grandchildren will be so proud of me"
They'd BETTER be! If they're not, I'll fly over there and yell at them until they are
13/15
Dean Burnett (that brains guy)
in reply to Dean Burnett (that brains guy) • • •So, yeah.
Basically, I promise I didn't have any racist, sexist, or ageist biases/stereotypes in my worldview at that time. But if I had, this student would have burned those out of my brain in one fell swoop. She was a genuine superhuman, who relentlessly used her powers for good.
14/15
Dean Burnett (that brains guy)
in reply to Dean Burnett (that brains guy) • • •I've no idea if she's still with us, as she was pushing eighty over ten years ago. It seems unlikely, but then she was an 'unlikely' person in every aspect. But from now on, if I have to identify someone who inspires me, it'll be her.
End
15/15
verita84
in reply to Dean Burnett (that brains guy) • • •