Students are our Greatest Assets

Teaching has been a personal passion for some time now. The more I teach, the more I learn from my students. I find that teaching any course regardless of topic helps me in understanding a part of human's desire to learn and grow. Students differ in their skill level and they all have different dreams. It only takes a bit of a 'nudge' to get them to put energy on the goals that will help students achieve their most farfetched dreams. Students are an asset at various levels.

Students tend to think of the most brilliant ideas in the classroom setting. As teachers, we need to enhance students' competence to ensure that they become bold enough to pursue their dreams. Student also tend to bring different talents and gifts into the classroom and when students learn to communicate those talents and gifts with confidence, they tend to spark creativity in the classroom. Students are all very unique and come from distinct backgrounds, beliefs, and values.

Students are also assets in our community when we discover ways to expand our students' talents and gifts to the community. This is why I am very interested in service learning because I find that students want assignments that are truly meaningful to them, rather than once that are more practice-based on hypothetical scenarios. While the classroom might not mirror 'real life,' service learning can provide the opportunity to help students nurture the community. 

Students are assets in the world and the planet. Students have the advantage of being in a place where they can explore their surroundings, while at the same time, still learning about who they are. Students are welcomed to expand their thoughts outside of the classroom and to help solve real world problems.

I feel blessed to be able to reach out to students in my educational efforts! My goal as a professor will be try to highlight my students' strengths because they are assets to the university, the community, the country, and ultimately, the world. Students rock!