Below, you’ll find my autobiography; specifically, I’ll be looking at experiences that shaped my teaching practice today. This was a topic of discussion and reflection during our EPSE 317 course, wherein one assignment was to create and describe our auto-geography; I’ve included a photo of the poster project on this page. 

High School Leadership

One of the programs that I was most passionate about during highschool was our Student Government, or Leadership, program. I was in the program for all five years of highschool, which was lead by an inspiring teacher named Linda Pollastretti. The program was designed to be fun, inclusive, and service-oriented (to both school and community), and was constructed largely around fostering the “7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens.”

From this program, I learned so much about responsibility, citizenship, and leadership – and I definitely look up to Linda Pollastretti as a teacher I strive to emulate.

Family and Home

I am fortunate to have a very supportive family, both immediate and extended. They have molded so much of my personal beliefs, shaped how I view relationships with those around me, and encouraged me in every aspect of my life. In particular, they have been instrumental in my path to becoming an educator. From an early age my parents encouraged a love of reading and learning, as well as pushing me to succeed through public school. I am also lucky to have several teachers in the family – an aunt, two cousins, and my sister in law; their advice has been so helpful, especially in this program.

Contemplating the effect of my family on my teaching practice was bittersweet, because I realize that many of my students will not be coming from such supportive and nurturing homes. I hope that I can continue to recognize my privilege as a privilege, and be open and empathetic to students coming from all family backgrounds.   

The concept of “homes” and how we can have multiple, overlapping definitions of home strongly resonates with me. I grew up in Abbotsford, and for 25 years this was the only city I considered home. Today, I consider Abbotsford my hometown….but is it a home? In the last few years, though, that idea has become complicated. I live in Vancouver, and am working on becoming more comfortable in this city. I also feel a strong pull to 100 Mile House, where my parents have lived for 8 years – and where I still have a room in their home. And finally, I spent a year living in Korea, and while I don’t consider that my “home” (definitive) now, it absolutely was my home for the year that I was there.

Many of my students will be coming from a position where they have multiple or fragmented concepts of home – whether because of family situations, immigration or moving patterns, they will have different definitions of home. These should be acknowledged and, when not emotionally upsetting, celebrated in the classroom.

Travel and SoKo

I have always had a passion for travel, reading about faraway people and places when I was very young and dreaming of the day when I could go to all of these places. I’ve had the chance to travel to many different countries, and look forward to travelling to many more. The people and places that I have interacted with have opened my mind to other points of views, and absolutely changed my point of view regarding many subjects.

Teaching ESL in South Korea was actually what motivated me to join UBC’s BEd program. It had a huge effect on my teaching practice at the beginning of the year. I learned so much about Korean culture, and it was fuel to the fire – I am always curious about exploring new people and places, and I hope to inspire that in my students as well. I look forward to seeing how students react to foreign or unknown cultures, and learning about cultures from my students as well.

 

Sexuality

I was hesitant about including my sexuality in this autobiography and, earlier, for my autogeography project. It can be considered a hot topic, I think, depending on the audience. While it definitely informs my understanding of both the world and my teaching practice, some people don’t view it as an appropriate point of discussion in the classroom. I think it is exceptionally important to have honest discussions with students about my sexuality, particularly because there are so few gay role models out there for students. Like the photos I included implied, I think tackling this topic using a combination of both honesty and humour is the best way to humanize the message.