There are few professions in life whose impact sticks with us as universally as that of teachers. For most, teaching is considered a formal position, embodied by the adults standing at the front of the class, imparting (successfully or otherwise) a sense of authority on a subject that we are told is crucial for passing a long series of all-important tests and exams.
Beyond the fact that teachers are, in general, grossly underpaid and required to work with highly volatile agents, they face another structural barrier: the challenge of a captive audience when the content being taught causes extreme confusion. The best teachers understand this problem and can sympathise with the faces in front of them. They remember the feelings of defeat that preceded their own victories over calculus. Because they remember, they don’t merely hand you a map and set you on your way; instead, they guide you through the twists and turns, championing your victories and encouraging you when needed.
Teachers who go on to become your quiet favourites may be boisterous, funny, or a little more lax with the rules; but these aren’t the qualities that keep them lodged in our psyches for the rest of our lives. What is important is how they gave you the confidence to tackle the once-insurmountable challenge presented by calculus.
Navigating health and fertility challenges that appear to be insurmountable
Most of us implicitly and mistakenly make the assumption that these kinds of people – teachers, along with the roles they play in our lives – are confined to our formative years. Once we stop being students and enter society as potential employees, the sink-or-swim reality of everyday life supersedes our naive expectations and ambitions, and we are told: “You’re on your own.”
The daily difficulties we face grow infinitely more complex, and as we navigate our way through them, we grow and adapt. Eventually, we become better at dealing with these problems and attempt to live a happy and fulfilled life despite the challenges. But what if we cannot overcome these challenges? After all, the infinite complexity of our world suggests that we cannot realistically have the tools to deal with every potential setback ourselves. Some problems are easy to outsource – while others, predominantly those relating to our healthcare and overall wellbeing, become far more difficult to navigate.
Teachers beyond the classroom
For millions of would-be parents worldwide, the challenges of starting a family can seem insurmountable, especially when issues of infertility come to the fore. These often lead to the adoption of maladaptive coping mechanisms at best and the loss of a partner at worst. In such cases, having a guide to help navigate the tribulations and struggles of the process would be priceless. A clear path to sanity here depends on our ability to educate ourselves about our genetic health – and the availability of carrier screening in South Africa today presents a strategic opportunity for all couples seeking to start a family, or struggling to conceive.
Genetic carrier screening, which was previously unavailable in South Africa locally, now offers the next step in proactive health promotion, giving both parents and children a headstart in dealing with potential health concerns. Genetic disorders were previously treated as an unlucky roll of the dice which had to be addressed when they appeared – thankfully, this is no longer the case.
Although many of the genetic traits we inherit are relatively benign, some can be life-altering, if not life-threatening. Carrier screening – which determines whether a person carries a genetic variation associated with a disease or trait – is not only important for making decisions surrounding pregnancy but also promotes awareness of potential health concerns that may impact the quality of life for parent and child alike. And all it takes is a simple saliva test.
Downstream, if one is faced with an IVF journey, we now have the ability to pre-screen candidate embryos identified by IVF specialists and circumvent the implantation of a genetically unhealthy baby. In addition, women who have experienced the devastation of numerous miscarriages are now able to determine whether this was due to a chromosomal abnormality, giving mothers-to-be as much information they need to prevent a similar outcome from happening in future pregnancies.
It is clear that education in terms of our genetic health is key – people need to know that there are resources available for those trying to conceive. You can tap into the previous experiences of those who have already navigated these difficulties and uncertainty – FutureGen Labs is ready and waiting to provide results that may guide prospective parents through the confusion. You do not have to navigate it alone.
Just like our favourite teachers, more than mere directions are needed; what’s required is an empathetic guide who can uplift us, propel us forward, and open the right doors. Turning to organisations that offer pure empathy while guiding your informed decision-making, can offer a significant reprieve when we can lean on the experience of others. Fertility, surrogacy, and adoption are neither simple nor straightforward processes, but external guides can turn complexity into manageable steps towards answers and hope.
For those of us attempting to navigate the challenges of starting a family, we may believe that, amidst an uncaring and selfish world, we face hopeless odds. However, genuine care and assistance are available. There is no need to accept defeat.
