I am realizing however that this nervousness is not the "worried" kind but rather the "butter flies" kind. I am nervously excited about the potential of opening a few more minds to the challenges that face the vulnerable and underserved.
Nervous because it is a delicate balance between appreciating the challenges and yet maintaining hope, understanding the monumental struggle of these patients and yet seeing a path for them through it, realizing your role as a healthcare professional and expanding your impact as a caring professional. Excited because I know that what the students will do wit this class will far exceed our expectations.
When asked "why are you taking this class?" the answers varied from "I would like to increase my own emotional intelligence and become more empathetic to such issues" to personal experiences with a subset of this demographic. What united them all though is enthusiasm to learn more and see how they can be more with the degrees they are graduating from.
I look forward to our journey together!