Becoming a Teacher

I remember sitting in my public policy class back in graduate school and listening to my professor describe how he didn’t really know something until he taught it. That makes sense. There are a lot of things that I read about (study, if you will) with the intention of passing along whatever “the thing” is to others. I like to think of it as passing along “nuggets of wisdom.” Yoga is a prime example. I’ve been practicing and reading about yoga for over ten years. I happen to think yoga is the key to life on many levels. While I find myself weaving in little anecdotes in conversations about my experience and knowledge, I tend not to approach it as a teacher.

Being a teacher is intimidating. The last time I was officially a teacher is during my study abroad experience in China in 1991. I taught several English classes at Hunan Normal University. I loved my students and I loved the experience, but for some reason, during and afterward I would always say, now I know that I don’t want to be a teacher.

I want to be a teacher now. I’ve got a lot to work with when it comes to content and I happen to have a captive audience (sorry scholars). I’m putting together “the flow” for our summer program for McNair and we have LOTS of goodies planned. I want to use this summer to deepen my knowledge and really get to know the something’s that I am encouraging my students to consider, employ and subscribe to.

This is going to take a shift of the mind for me honestly and I’m going to use Danielle LaPorte for inspiration here. One of the things I admire about Danielle is her depth of thinking (tending toward waxing philosophical) and ability to bring great meaning to the many layers of nuance and complexity to whatever the topic at hand might be. She can make even the most mundane and normal-type things (things most just take as a given) and talk about them like they are the most fascinating and important things ever. She makes them meaningful and relevant.

In my head, I am starting to cultivate this kind of approach by not taking for granted what I know. Too often I dismiss it and say to myself, oh, this is a given, common knowledge, too simplistic to warrant “teaching it” as a concept or idea. What I don’t consider is what I can bring to the topic itself by presenting it to others through my own lens, with my own experience, with my own unique twist on things. I think this relates to my own lack of confidence and belief in myself. I’m done with this old way. This summer, I’m shedding old habits that no longer serve me and this is a biggie.

So my intention is to pause and consider greatly the many layers and opportunities to teach my students this summer. I’m so lucky to be able to say that I have students. My McNair students. And I love them. I’m going to give myself more credit and take my offerings (my teachings) more seriously. I’m going to elevate their importance in my mind and approach things like my policy professor. In teaching others, I will only deepen my own knowledge and understanding. In teaching others, I will instill greater meaning in own truth and abilities, and ultimately, myself.