My Philosophy
It is my philosophy that the purpose of education is ultimately to benefit society so that each and every person holds the ability to broaden their thinking, make good choices, and engage with the community in a positive and meaningful manner. I believe that citizens should be good people, and I strongly believe that education plays a significant role in the intellectual and social development of individuals. Within this system, educators have an incredible power in that they can make a marked impact on the lives of their students; though they are not responsible for the actions that their students choose to enact, educators can inspire their students to inquire, discover, and challenge ideas in order to make decisions for themselves. I believe that educators, in some way, affect the future, because they are educating generations of students who will go on to participate in the world for many years outside of school.
Making a Difference
One of the foundational reasons for why I want to teach has always been because I have wanted to be a part of this change. I want to make an influence on youth, and want to inspire and encourage them to make a meaningful impact in the world. My ultimate goal in teaching is to encourage my students to discover their passion in something, and then to pursue that passion in depth. I value perseverance, and believe grit is a necessary component to success.
The Importance of Having Critical Friends
Having critical friends is another necessary piece for success that cannot be overlooked. These are trusted people in your life who are on their own journey, but can provide you with valuable and necessary feedback to help you grow as an individual. Within this, another important goal of mine is to have collaboration be embedded into my classroom culture, and to inspire students to see the value in learning together, rather than alone. Being able to work with others in a respectful and constructive manner is an important part of life, and so I think it is necessary for students to have practice in this throughout their school career.
Safe Spaces are a Must
Finally, I have always been an advocate for inclusivity and diversity, and as a teacher, I want to provide a space for students to explore themselves and their thoughts in a safe, comfortable, and supportive environment. Within this, I think it is also important that students are given opportunities to contribute to making the space safe. An example of this could be as simple as allowing students to choose where they sit in the classroom. I hope that by providing students with that space and support, that they will feel hopeful, enabled to challenge their own thinking, and driven to find their own passions.
My Own Learning Journey…
These values and goals are part of my identity as an educator. Within the context of our constantly-changing society, I think it is important to know yourself and your identity, but to remain open to other possibilities and viewpoints. I also believe that learning is a lifelong process, and that opinions, and even values, change over time. Within this, exposing yourself to different viewpoints and ways of thinking is necessary to not only become more empathetic, but also more knowledgeable. As for my own education, I do not believe that my Bachelor of Education is the end of my road with academia. With such a great passion for literatureāand especially young adult literatureā I hope to continue on my own educational path with a Master of Arts in English within the next few years. I consider this to be one way of modeling following one’s passion, and hope that I can someday share my story of perseverance with my students.