I have a very close friend and mentor whom, when asked for introductions, freely admits that she wears many different hats - each hat symbolizes the unique roles she plays in her life. Those hats include those of teacher, mother, wife, friend, and cancer survivor (to name just a few) where each hat by itself can tell a very compelling story. Yet, to get to know who she truly is one must view her from these other perspectives and she invites each person to discover her from all her many different hat perspectives.
As I contemplate the topic of my personal philosophy, I think of her and all the other influential people who have helped me grow professionally, academically, intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally – giving me guidance and support along this path, allowing me to reach for my goals and find comfort in the many hats I have chosen to wear.
As a husband, I believe in being patient, kind, understanding, and loving to my wife who has supported everything I believe and aspire to become.
As a student, I believe in the continual, lifelong pursuit of knowledge and that personal enlightenment can be obtained through reading, communicating, and experiencing the many cultures of the world in this global learning community.
As an artist, I seek to capture the more humanistic/realistic truth the world provides and enjoy challenging myself in multiple mediums, including stained glass, charcoals and pastels, watercolors, and acrylic paints.
As a computer enthusiast, I love to explore the continual advancements technology brings to our society by tinkering, experimenting, and developing with web-based programming languages, multimedia/productivity software applications, and communication tools that can be utilized to improve learning.
As an educator, I acknowledge each student’s unique abilities and I strive to create a dynamic learning environment where objectives are met through shared experiences that utilize exploration, discourse, and center around mutual respect.
As a researcher, I seek truth and understanding in the educational arena through inquiry, observations, and collected artifacts – using data from quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods to build further knowledge and understanding of the world in which I live.
I am a husband, a student, an artist, a computer enthusiast, an educator, and a researcher (to name just a few). Though the hats I choose to wear show the complexities, the passion in which I live my life, my philosophy is really much more simplistic – based solely upon two guiding fundamental principles.
A desire to learn.
- A desire to make a difference in the lives of others in a positive, meaningful way.
Though there have been times in my life that I have swayed from these two principles, in hindsight I have found that my life really has balance when I center myself with these two collectively as my guide. Thus, I have chosen the field of education as an arena to maintain my balance and find personal happiness – giving me an opportunity to give back to community through research, teaching, and service.
These are my hats.