I had the opportunity this week to meet with some amazing students at Pittsfield High School. I sat around a table with 12+ high school students just to talk about whatever was on their minds concerning their thoughts on access to care and their experiences with health care in the Berkshires. We had about 40 minutes to talk. I wanted to hear their thoughts as well as their voices, so I kept my introduction short because what truly mattered to me was that they be heard. It was a great conversation. I will tell you that it was one of the best meetings I have had since I took on my role as DEI Officer. They challenged me with their well thought out questions and made me think when they discussed their experiences. I share data all the time, but it is the stories that drive the work. It is the stories of people in their most vulnerable moments that remind me of the importance of treating all people with dignity.
I believe one of the most challenging biases to overcome is the generational ones especially when it comes to how we see our younger generations. Each generation comes with different stereotypes and often we use those ideas to make blanket statements about them for example I am a baby boomer, and the thought is that we are technophobes or that we are not smart enough to understand new technology. I am not going to go into all the stereotypes, but I think you understand what I mean. These biases can block us from listening to each other and from hearing other people’s point of view. When I went to speak with those students, I had to go there not to think I am the adult, and I am going to teach them but that I was going to listen and do my best to answer their questions and have them know their voices truly matter.
The stories shared with me reflected what I know to be true about the experiences of many in our county. We talked about the language gaps between patients and providers, the wait times for behavioral health services, how do we determine who is seen first in the emergency department, how are we addressing educating our staff on sexual orientation and gender issues, and the cost of health care. This time with the students at Pittsfield High made it clear to me the importance of including those voices when we talk about how we improve care for our community. They taught me on that day the importance of hearing all voices and letting people know that you matter.
I want to say to those students and all our young people I hear you and I will do better. We are in this together and we will face these challenges much stronger today than we were yesterday. Greatness and success are not measured by the title we hold, how much money we have, or how famous we are. It comes from living our life with dignity and treating others by honoring their dignity. Whatever mountains stand in front of us we continue to move forward. We are more than motivated. We are determined to live our lives to our fullest potential.
“We all have the ability to come from nothing to something.” David Goggins retired United States Navy SEAL and author.
Charles Redd RN
Dignity Freedom Fighter
Dignity Freedom Fighter 