An HBCU professor is being praised for going above and beyond when a student needed help.
A viral video showing Professor Aqeel Dix, Ph.D., a health sciences professor at Lincoln University, as he holds a student’s baby while instructing the class is being celebrated.
The student needed a babysitter to attend class, so Dix stepped in.
“It Takes A Village….When my students need me, I’m there,” Dix posted. “Student came to me and said Dr. Dix I’m going to miss class. My reply, was why…She then says I don’t
have a babysitter. I said yes you do, bring him to class I’ll take care of him. I always say, we as educators are more than our title. I will never have a student miss class because they have no one to keep their kids. I will hold Dr.Dix daycare in the back of my class before I allow them to miss class. Days like this makes me fall in love with what I do.”The video was recorded back in January 2020, but the video has since resurfaced, touching the hearts of many.
Recently, people have been adding comments about the touching gesture on social media.
“Beautiful and impactful! Much respect Had a professor who did something very similar for me when my daughter was a few months old and I was in grad school and I will forever respect and love her for it!” a commenter said.
“The epitome of a ‘BEAUTIFUL SOUL’. I love teachers like you,” someone wrote.
“Keep setting the bar high! We need more human beings like you,” another person added.
“This is great brother. You have made a difference in someone life,” a user continued.
Dix has been a professor at Lincoln since 2015. While he did not know he was being filmed, he says he signed up as a professor to make an impact that sometimes involves serving in many roles.
“I go above and beyond for all of them,” he says. I[‘ve] bought groceries, I picked [a student] up when he was stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire. That’s just who I am. And so I understand the plight of single parents … they tackle school and work. It’s a lot to carry. It’s hard for someone who does not have children to take care of to go to school and be successful.”