Dorothea Dix was an advocate for the mentally ill.

Dix scholars draw inspiration from teacher and activist

By: Tammy Ford

Posted: 2/4/10

What constitutes the label of Dix Scholar? For those of you do not know, one of the requirements of being a Dix scholar is being older than 24 years and in pursuit of higher education. Almost 25 percent of Simmons College students fall into this category. Students may not know the answers to many questions they have about Dorothea Lynde Dix. Such as: Who was Dorothea Lynde Dix and why did Simmons choose her as the namesake of the program for older students? What did this woman do to earn this honor? What exactly does this mean to a student coming into Simmons as a Dix Scholar?

Dix's career started at age 14 as a teacher, and by age 19 she had founded a school for young girls in Boston. She was a passionate teacher and published numerous works. When she was 39 years old, unable to teach due to illness, Dix turned her attention to the plight of the mentally ill within the walls of hospitals and prisons. Thus, as a mature woman, her true life's work began. She fought for basic human rights at a time when the law did not normally listen to women's concerns. She turned patient advocacy into a well known term.

Dix overcame many obstacles of her time, not only as a woman but also as a nontraditional student, using her varied experiences to her advantage as she worked to affect change. Everything that she did had an impact, from her teachings as a young woman to her work on reform of the institutions for the mentally ill. She made sacrifices for what she truly believed in, as a teacher and an advocate, and influenced the leaders of her time to act upon her research.

Dix's decision to pursue a different career path as an older woman reflects the experiences of Dix Scholars at Simmons. When making a dision like this it is important for someone to understand what drives them . What keeps passions alive and why one decision is made over another are also to keep in mind. Valuable life experience has made Dix Scholars not just passive observers but active participants in their lives and in pursuit of their career goals as Ms. Dix was. There are such diverse interests among the Dix Scholar population. Some are embarking upon a second career path, and others are just starting. Many are raising or have raised children. Now they are focusing on themselves. Knowing the answers to the above questions has enabled them to identify knowledge in academic and professional areas and then to pursue them in earnest. They can look into their pasts and realize that the path they are on may not have been available or appealing as younger women. Whatever the reason, they followed a different path. Eventually that path led them to this particular educational course at Simmons.

It took years for Dix to discover and act upon her true passion. Following her example, thier passion will allow them to be proactive, as Dix was. All ready, like Dorothea Dix, to make an impact, on families, on society, and largely in thier own lives.