A professor is receiving widespread acclaim for his compassionate gesture towards a student balancing education and parenting last month.
Wayne Hayer, a 26-year-old college senior studying kinesiology at Morehouse University in Atlanta, Georgia, is also a father to a 5-month-old daughter named Assata. While Hayer’s wife typically cares for their baby, she needed assistance finding childcare for the day. During a mathematics class, Hayer received a text from her asking for help, prompting him to share his predicament with Nathan Alexander, the mathematics professor known for his strict “no texting” policy.
Understanding Hayer’s situation, Professor Alexander invited him to bring Assata to class. The following day, Hayer arrived with his daughter dressed in a pink onesie. Alexander not only welcomed the baby but also offered to hold her, allowing Hayer to concentrate on taking notes.
Classmate Nick Vaughn captured a photo of Alexander teaching with Assata secured in a baby carrier, which quickly went viral on social media. Vaughn noted, “Not only did he teach the entire lecture with the child in his arms, but he also stayed after class helping those with questions about today’s lecture with the child still in his arms.”
The incident resonated deeply with many, proclaiming the importance of support for student parents and challenging stereotypes about fatherhood. Hayer expressed gratitude for the experience, describing it as a moment of solidarity that enhanced the learning environment. There are enough lessons and inspiration to be drawn from here. May we learn to use our positions in life to soften the situation of others.