Insights of a Veteran Radiographer

For the Dialectics assignment, I chose to engage in an open and honest conversation with a dear friend and colleague who identifies as gay. While I do not consider myself homophobic, I recognize that her life experiences are different from mine, and I approached our conversation with a sincere desire to understand her perspective more deeply. What I initially expected to be a brief question-and-answer exchange turned into a two-hour discussion that we both enjoyed. Rather than focusing solely on her sexuality, our conversation naturally expanded into broader topics of diversity, inclusion, and what it means to truly see and support others. She shared that she grew up in a very conservative household and always sensed that she was “different.” However, she did not come out until she was seventeen. When I asked if her family had been supportive, she shared a painful memory of when her mother arranged for a minister to visit their home to tell her she was going to hell. I cannot imagi...

The Journey That Shaped Me as an Educator I grew up in a large, tight-knit family with two sisters, an adopted brother, and lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins. We celebrated every birthday and holiday together, usually at my grandmother's house. While my dad was not particularly religious, my mom’s side of the family were devout Catholics, where you did not miss mass unless you were truly sick. My dad worked as a bricklayer and my mom was an elementary school teacher. Together they instilled in us the importance of a strong work ethic. They also set an incredible example of lasting love, as they will celebrate sixty-two years of marriage this August. As a kid, I was more interested in sports and socializing than school. I remember comments in my elementary school report cards that read, “She’s a good student, but she talks too much!” My first two years of college were a struggle, and I was not sure what path to take. Around that time, my uncle, who was a nurse, suggested I look int...

Big news... I am almost finished with my master's degree in education! This first 8-week summer semester I will be learning about the philosophy of education and leading a culturally responsive classroom. Come along with me on this next adventure as I continue to learn and grow as an educator! Caryn