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Behind the Scenes
with Dr. Vaclavik (va kla' vik)
Vickie
Vaclavik Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor, and Registered Dietitian at The University
of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, in the Department of Clinical
Nutrition. She instructs in Food Science, and Management and Foodservice Operations,
as well as in a portion of the community practice component of Nutrition Education.
She also instructs at the Community College, and a local Culinary Arts program.
Dr. Vaclavik is married with 3 sons, and attends Bent Tree Bible Fellowship
in Carrollton, TX.
One Thing Only Is Required...
University Life
Q: OK, Dr. Vaclavik, so what exactly DO you DO as a college professor?
A: First of all, I work at several locations. I teach, primarily at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Food Science and Management, but also at the Community College, instructing in both credit classes, and continuing education. I have a lot of classroom contact with area foodservice managers and student chefs.
Currently, I teach classes - lecture and laboratory; supervise student practice in the community, at hospitals, schools, etc.; interact through committee service; advise students; interview prospective students; conduct research for book writing; participate in various speaking engagements, and perform "other duties as may be assigned".
Q: I understand that you have been teaching for a number of years, so, why are you still teaching?
A: I have numerous personal and professional reasons for remaining in teaching at the university level (NOT listed in order of priority):
- I have degrees in the field, so it's what I SHOULD do.
- I have talents and interest in the field, which are well suited to the tasks of the job.
- I have opportunity to read the most current information as it crosses my desk.
- I teach introductory courses, so it is always a new challenge to relate facts to a fresh group of students who come in not knowing a lot already.
- The money. (ha ha!)
- I meet the most interesting people through my employment.
- I see teaching as a form of service to others - equipping them for better performance and/or greater personal satisfaction. I believe that my teaching is a God-given talent - and I must use it or lose it!
- Additionally, although it is not WHY I teach, I have been honored with being selected as one of the finalists for several teaching awards in the first year they were given. While I did not receive the awards, I hope that the real winners were my students.
I once told a friend that teaching is great for me, because I have opportunity to "take charge", organize material, and talk a lot EVERY day!
Life Outside of the University
Q: You sound like you're very involved in teaching, would you say you "have a life" beyond your job?
A: Perhaps you ask that question because ANY job, for ANY person, or maybe a job in combination with attending classes as a student, or simultaneously raising children, may be all-consuming at times.
In answer to your question, yes, I DO have a life outside of the university! I enjoy my 3 grown sons and their college experiences, and being a grandma for the first time. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I make time for daily Bible reading and fellowship at church. (Bent Tree Bible Fellowship.) I'm very connected in my neighborhood, and I get together over lunch with friends whom I might not otherwise see. I also keep up on the culinary profession, and I take opportunity to shop!
Purpose
Q: As a Christian, what is your main intent or purpose on the job?
A: My intent, when I'm teaching, is that students learn. Simultaneously, I want to be competent as a professor; I want to "know my stuff". Yet, I have heard it said that students "don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."
My MAIN intent though, is to please the Lord, and that is achieved by obeying Him. I think that includes practicing the Golden Rule which Jesus gave- "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you" - YIKES! Ouch! (I have to rely on God to enable me to succeed here in a consistent manner.)
I once heard that we can be a person who "works hard", or a person who "hardly works"! Years ago, as a college student, I may not have faithfully followed the Biblical injunction from the Bible's New Testament, "Study and work hard to present yourself approved, 'well done' and not ashamed."
As I "mature" my intent is to do my work wholeheartedly, not just for people, but for the Lord. I want to be able to "present myself approved", therefore I don't slough off. I want to use my problem solving skills and apply solutions to solve (or prevent) problems; therefore I work hard.
Personal Challenges
Q: What are some of your PERSONAL CHALLENGES related to your job:
A: My challenges are the very same as the above-mentioned intents! I try too hard! For example, I try too hard to understand and please everyone, and to have students learn. Recently, I read in the Bible, "Now we know only in part. Someday we shall know fully, as God fully knows us. Now we see as in a mirror dimly, but then we shall see Him face-to-face." As a result, I've had to tell myself something I hear my boys tell each other, "Get over it", "Live with it!". For I do not have to figure everything out, and in fact, I shouldn't be trying!
I'm goal oriented, perhaps goal "driven" perhaps an over-achiever. We all know that A leads to B; B leads to C, etc. and I realize there is not too much room for hesitation or confusion on the road to achieving our goals. Yet, while we must be "focused", I would be quick to add that we must NOT forget about the joys of the journey, or the people that we meet along the way.
I have habits that I would like to overcome, and I'm painfully aware of some of my shortcomings. Shortcomings such as … well, that is beyond the scope of THIS discussion!
Observations/Personal Inspirations
Q: What would you say are some of the observations regarding people that you have made over the years?
A: I have found that people want to "fit in" somewhere, and not be "left out". They want to be loved, respected, and understood. At times they just want to be left alone. Some people are obviously "searching" for something. Being a "direct" person myself, I have made the recommendation to some that they "hurry up and discover it all." By that I meant for them to keep going on the path they were taking to see if there was anything that they could find to truly/lastingly satisfy them. It is my conclusion that no amount of prestige, power or money can buy what they want. At a recent Harvard 30 year class reunion of extremely successful entrepreneurs and executives in every field, one alumnus shared that the recurring theme of the weekend was "Success doesn't satisfy." The good news is that you don't have to wait 30 years to grasp this; if you realize it now, you're way ahead of the game. (And a class of Harvard MBAs).
In Summary
I try to faithfully carry out the duties of my work. In doing so, I am inspired by Esther, a former Queen of Persia - the territory from India to Ethiopia - in the fifth century BC. While living through a traumatic time, in which she played a pivotal role in sparing the Jews from genocide, she wrote, "Who knows but that I was born for such a time as this." To that I say, YES! I too, in some way, want my life to count.
Another inspiration for me is found in the Bible's New Testament, in the book of Luke. Jesus said, to a woman named Martha who was SO busy she was frazzled, "One thing only is required ... Mary has chosen it, the better portion ..." Reading that encouraged me to know that the "one thing" referred to in the situation, was not activity or achievement, but rather sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening.
Link to "Rest In Peace"
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Updated: 19 October 2009