Where I went to college, the teachers were typically industry professionals who taught courses related to their experience. Teachers who taught computer networking or C++ programming worked locally for companies in positions that required them to be knowledgeable in those fields. It made sense! Real working experience being shared with prospective individuals who they might work with in the future. There was one exception to this that comes to mind. A doctor working as a mental health professional who worked directly with prison inmates.

This doctor taught a class that was like an introduction to critical thinking and problem solving, and they were incredibly fascinating! It took a long time to get to where I’m at today, but I likely wouldn’t have reached this far in my life without their class. One lesson in particular always comes up in my mind when I think about them.

They shared a story about a murderer who would leave dolls behind that were dressed like the victims. With only the limited details provided, the question posed to us students was simple and went something along the lines of “How would you go about figuring out the murderer’s identity?” The answer was one that most of us didn’t register until it was spoken out loud. If the murderer’s signature was a doll, then check with local toy stores that sold those kinds of dolls to see who was buying them. Once we heard that answer things started to click, and everything was downhill from there.

I’ll never forget that lesson.