Our year of dreams

By Richard M. Suinn, PhD
APA President

A year begins.and I begin my dream. I am an Asian-American from a working class family with little time for dreams. But now a dream unfolds. A dream that odds would say should only be a dream, for in APA's 106 years, only two ethnic minorities have ever been elected president. Yet my dream becomes a reality, and as it occurs, I also am aware of others' dreams and the seeming impossible odds they face.

Helping ethnic minorities and cancer patients

Two topics instantly capture my vision: the plight of ethnic minorities and the catastrophic experiences of cancer. Ethnic minorities dream of the day they can experience life as non-minorities and be welcomed as equals. Even in today's enlightenment and humanity, affirmative action faces extinction. Since affirmative action is often interpreted as recruitment of the less competent, it is useful to remember what minorities bring: a life experience that promotes resiliency and strength of character, a commitment to the importance of hard work renewing an often forgotten model, and-from those who can think in more than one language-a unique problem-solving that bypasses the ruts imbedded in monolingual thought.

Today, recruiters are willing to support diversity when diversity means a unique background in job skills or education or geographic location. However, the same people respond adversely when diversity is defined as minority background. We might conclude that offering value-added to society is acceptable, unless the value is offered by a minority person. So they dream.

In addition to ethnic minorities, I am intensely aware of those suffering from cancer, which affects two of every three American families. They also have a dream: the elimination of suffering, the return of quality in life, and emotional and physical survival. But the odds are heavily against them as well. Whereas subtle acts prevent minorities from having the quality of life they seek, cancer is direct in its assault. Normalcy in life is lost, confidence in what was once familiar-one's own body-is impaired, communications with loved ones disrupted, life no longer continues 'as usual.' There is no immediate promise for permanent recovery, no single course of treatment. The dream is to find a reason to hope because hope means there is a future.

Bringing hope

So now we return to my dream and how living my dream intersects with the dream of these others. How can we bring hope? Addressing this will be my theme for the year, culminating in APA's Boston Convention next August.

Underlying such effort is my commitment to inviting participation and involvement of APA members in my goals. 'APA' is not the president and Board of Directors or the Council of Representatives, or the governance Boards and Committees, or the Central Office. APA is everyone who holds membership status, and when major achievements occur, it is through the collaborative efforts of such members.

I have already released announcements in the Monitor, personal letters to presidents of APA divisions and state psychological associations and student listservs. These have cited my vision regarding minority and cancer concerns and invited joint participation, such as asking newsletter editors to solicit and publish research or professional articles that would move either agenda forward.

I will seek to highlight the proven ways psychologists enhance quality of life for cancer patients, reduce pain, strengthen the immune system, improve communications and help families. I will be seeking to extend the good work of the APA Commission on Ethnic Minority Recruitment, Retention and Training, as this Commission offered hope to minorities.

The first steps

Is there room for optimism? As I write this column, our granddaughter is taking her first tentative steps. Imagine this: she grasps a table leg, pulls herself upright with all her strength, momentarily experiences an intense fear of falling and being hurt, but sees her loving parents encouraging her, and shakily releases her grip and commits herself to those steps! What possesses us as children, and then as adults, to take such risks, to overcome obstacles, to step into progress? Wherever lies the answer, I believe the human event of the first step is a model for all whose lives seemed full of obstacles.

My next column will detail my vision for providing encouragement to minorities and cancer patients as the dream unfolds. And for the celebration that all psychologists should enjoy as part of the progress. For the gains we make are gains for us all. Stay tuned .and watch for our contest! And the year brings hope.

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