Communicating With Others

While reflecting on the various class activities of this semester and the purpose behind them, I found myself relating this to my workplace, and the manner in which I am expected to behave and the values I am expected to embody. Some of these values coincide with the strategies and skills we learned or grew upon through the activities and class work of this semester. In the first weeks of class, Dr. McCoy showed us the purpose behind getting to know each other’s names. To be completely honest, I initially thought this activity was a complete waste of class time and I kept questioning as to why we were being asked to recite each others’ names. However, as the semester is coming to an end, I am greatly appreciating the time we spent with this exercise. Through this activity we were able to build a connection with each other helping us to easily start conversations with one another, even outside of the classroom. Personally, establishing a name to a face and creating that bond, has significantly helped me in communicating with my peers outside of class, contributing and commenting on my classmates’ blog posts, and especially to complete the collaborative course statement. Just simply learning each others’ names has taught me to be mindful of what I say and how I act, ultimately preparing me for working in the real world. With most of us pursuing careers in healthcare, establishing this connection with patients will be vital to be successful practitioners. These ideas relate to one particular core idea at my workplace, which is to “deliver medicine of the highest order”. This does not just mean giving the best possible treatment or having the lowest mortality rates; it means working with co-workers and patients to build meaningful relationships in which a safe-place can be established for patients and workers to freely communicate their thoughts and concerns. While working with patients on a daily basis, I have noted that patients feel far more comfortable if their providers introduce themselves, or even make small talk. This as a result allows us, the providers, to “act with empathy, understanding, and attentiveness” (University of Rochester ICARE Values). By making a little bit of effort with my patients, I have seen that they are far more comfortable in the dentist’s chair and are not afraid to voice their questions/concerns. I am very appreciative of the structure and organization of English 101 this semester as it has helped me learn, grow, and become a better person for others to depend on.