KCC Faculty on Teaching
KCC Faculty on Teaching
How did you get into teaching?
At university, a friend of mine said to me 鈥淵ou should become a teacher!鈥� He said
this in response to my helping him explain a particular concept in physics. I laughed
in his face and answered 鈥渘ever!鈥� Several years later, I took a job at the Writing
Center at 911爆料 and, to my surprise, realized how much I enjoyed helping students
with their work, both individually and collectively. An opportunity to teach my own
course was presented to me and, as they say, the rest is history! I鈥檇 stumbled into
teaching.
What career did you imagine for yourself when you were in college?
I imagined myself doing research in astrophysics while working for a lab. Having the
opportunity to work as an undergraduate assistant in that field helped me to realize
that, while I enjoyed such work, it wasn鈥檛 for me. I also studied philosophy and had
a deep love for that discipline, but I wasn鈥檛 sure what to do with it. At that time,
I did not think about teaching鈥�
What do you love about teaching?
I love having the opportunity to share my joy and knowledge with others. For me, teaching
is a wonderful occasion to journey with students through the fascinating world of
philosophy, while exploring the perennial questions that, in one sense, are part of
our mother tongue as human beings! I also enjoy the experience of watching them make
connections, both intellectually and with each other, as a community of learners.
What鈥檚 your favorite teaching experience?
I鈥檝e been fortunate to have many memorable experiences, but a few stand out. One time,
a class discussion was so engaging no one wanted to leave when our session came to
an end. Another time, I took a class out near the beach and discussed with them the
nature of reality, causality, and change. What makes these and other experiences stand
out to me is the level of engagement and connection we felt. These were moments that
felt as if time stopped.
In what ways do you bring your professional experience into the classroom?
I try to model for students a certain type of questioning that is decisive for philosophical
inquiry. In addition, I seek to cultivate within them a particular kind of disposition
that is akin to wonder, awe, and curiosity 鈥� essential ingredients for the soul of
a philosopher.
What advice do you have for current students?
Don鈥檛 be afraid to ask questions. Courage is essential, especially when it comes to
pursuing truth since one may in fact discover something one did not expect. This,
however, is a gift, because a new world is opening before you 鈥� one that invites you
to explore!