In Kyuquot during UBC’s community field experience.
I was born and grew up in White Rock, B.C. I attended White Rock Christian Academy through K – 12. This was a very good experience for me. I found that I genuinely enjoyed school and got involved with it on every level, including extra curriculars (Basketball, Youth groups, etc.). I have always found the process of learning to be quite fascinating in almost any discipline. Despite enjoying a variety of subjects, I focused on liberal arts for my undergraduate degree at UBC. I studied Philosophy, Religion, History and English among other subjects. This degree also provided me with the opportunity to study abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark for a semester where I furthered these same learning pursuits, looking specifically at the philosopher Soren Kierkegaard and his philosophies concerning the development of man.
After studying in Denmark, I realized that experience was the best way of approaching and learning the world. I took this idea to heart and tried many different things. Over the following several years, I travelled the Trans-Siberian Railway, taught English in Japan, and sailed from Vancouver to Hawaii and Alaska. I also began studying music composition more seriously and wrote and recorded my music. I then apprenticed and became a stonemason, building homes with natural stones. During this time, I also worked with troubled youth in a variety of settings, including group homes and respite care.
All of these experiences made me realize that I have a lot of life lessons and perspectives to share. I realized that teaching holds great intrinsic and sacred value. Having gained these experiences I wanted to be in a position of imparting what I had learned. What greater privilege is there than to work with the young as they form their world views and understanding of the world? To journey towards learning together, piecing together the mysteries of living and growing, is the most exciting journey anyone could be on. I am looking forward to all that teaching has to offer, both for myself and the students.
Some words that have come to have infused and expanded meaning for me during my teaching experience to date.
“You could not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you.”
Heraclitus