"How can you contribute to the class?"

[TabbyTuxy]

I'm struggling with this phrasing of the diversity prompts. I have a hobby that I'd like to write about, since it has taught me a lot of skills that will be advantageous as a med student and physician. I could write all day long about what I learned from the experience and how it made me who I am.

However, I am struggling because the prompts aren't about how I'm unique. They're also about how I contribute to the class, which makes me feel like I need something really concrete as a connection beyond "This perspective will help me contribute."

For example, if growing up in a rural area makes someone resourceful, community-oriented, and super interested in rural health...how do they tie it to the class? Are they expected to form some rural health club? Encourage classmates to volunteer in the community? All of these sound so forced.

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[Rachapkis]

Do your unique traits and experiences make you a good leader, particularly empathetic, a sound technician, a good collaborator, particularly attuned to the needs of a specific group, . . . ?

 

[TabbyTuxy]

Or that growing up in rural area, gives you experience and perspective of health care in those areas, how providers and clinics are spread far and wide, fewer specialists, difficulty in travel time to doctor, etc. Rural is an underserved population

Definitely. I can see how this perspective would be cultivated and helpful for a student and physician. Is this perspective alone sufficient to contribute to the class? Maybe I am overthinking this, but just having this knowledge/experience doesn't inherently benefit classmates, unless the assumption is simply that perspectives will end up being shared by interacting with classmates over the years.

 

[TabbyTuxy]

Do your unique traits and experiences make you a good leader, particularly empathetic, a sound technician, a good collaborator, particularly attuned to the needs of a specific group, . . . ?

Yes, definitely. If I embody one of those traits, is reflecting on my skill sufficient? Is the thing I contribute simply the ideas that I bring, or do I need to outline how I could share these with my classmates in order to answer the question?

 

[Rachapkis]

Example: I would bring diversity to the class because I am a jaw-dropping 7 feet 2 inches tall. Because of my extraordinary stature, I am constantly being observed and scrutinized by others, and am more than occasionally asked "how the weather is up there." Although my height can make things difficult for me (trying sitting in coach with a 43" inseam) and used to make me self-conscious, it has imbued me with a unique perspective. I know what is like to be different, and, over time, this gift has given me great empathy for those who find themselves outside the majority. For example, . . .

 

[LizzyM]

Keep in mind that many medical school educational experiences are in small groups so every student has a voice and is expected to contribute from their point of view and knowledge base. This is true in PBL and other small group sessoins, in anatomy lab, and in clinical rotations. Keep that in mind rather than trying to conjur how you might contribute in a lecture hall with 100 other students.

 

[TabbyTuxy]

you SHARE your knowledge with classmate. your experience will offer a different perspective when discussing the medicine you are learning and the populations you deal with. you arent over thinking, you are not thinking enough! Get yourself out of your head and think expansively

Thank you, this is the push I really needed.

 

[TabbyTuxy]

Keep in mind that many medical school educational experiences are in small groups so every student has a voice and is expected to contribute from their point of view and knowledge base. This is true in PBL and other small group sessoins, in anatomy lab, and in clinical rotations. Keep that in mind rather than trying to conjur how you might contribute in a lecture hall with 100 other students.

This is a great insight, too, I really appreciate it.

 

[TabbyTuxy]

Example: I would bring diversity to the class because I am a jaw-dropping 7 feet 2 inches tall. Because of my extraordinary stature, I am constantly being observed and scrutinized by others, and am more than occasionally asked "how the weather is up there." Although my height can make things difficult for me (trying sitting in coach with a 43" inseam) and used to make me self-conscious, it has imbued me with a unique perspective. I know what is like to be different, and, over time, this gift has given me great empathy for those who find themselves outside the majority. For example, . . .

Got it! Thank you!