Dooley Noted. 2/25/2014
Upon achieving my doctorate in chiropractic, a professor walked up to congratulate me.
Prof: Congrats on achieving Magna Cum Laude status.
Dooley: Thank you, sir.
Prof: How close were you to Sum Cum Laude?
Dooley: The A status is fine. I decided to work full time and minimize my debt in school. Magna is still good.
Prof: It is. You know the truth about grades anyway, right?
Dooley: No, sir.
Prof: A students do the research, B students teach, and C students make all the money.
I couldn’t shake what he said for days. I’m writing about it now, so I suppose it stuck with me for 7 years.
This professor was antagonizing my high grades, informing me I’d do research while I wouldn’t teach or practice. Also, he basically told me I’d never make a solid income.
Not only have I done research (A), but I build a life around teaching (B) and practicing (C). I get the opportunity to travel the USA and the world with my work, and I’m involved in the education of over 2,000 doctors per year, as well as hundreds of clinicians and trainers.
I proved the Professor incorrect. I suppose I should call him and thank him. But I will not.
With all due respect, he may be perpetuating that load of bull to every student he greets.
Some of them may not use his words as fuel. They may hear them as truth spoken from an expert in their field.
I work to do the opposite with my students and patients. I build an environment of encouragement that anything is not just possible, but probable.
The short of this story: Watch what you perpetuate as truth.
Your truth is in your perception. I’m glad I didn’t share his perception. I made my own and busted through the walls of paradigm.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley