User:Ggill005

The Snip-its

My name is Gurmeet, but some people call me "Mimi" for short. I was born in Williamsburg, Virginia in August 1984. For most of my life, I have lived in Yorktown, Virginia; however, I have traveled extensively throughout the years. I have a younger brother, Beant, who loves to travel as much as I do. I have been to 48 of the 50 states, Mexico, Canada, all of western Europe, and India. Over winter break, I plan to travel to Peru for two weeks. I am so excited and can't wait to explore their culture and history!

I grew up in a multicultural, multilingual environment. My mom was born and raised in England; whereas, my dad was born and raised in India. Growing up, I spent much of my time outside of school with my mom's best friend's kids, who are Bolivian. When I was in preschool, I created my own language, which was actually this strange combination of Spanish, Punjabi, and English. My parents made me speak English at home after that, in fear that I would fall behind in school. Thankfully, that never happened. I graduated from high school in 2002 and headed off to the College of William and Mary. I always thought that I would become a doctor; however, after shadowing several doctors in high school and my freshman year of college, I quickly changed my mind. Although I loved learning about anything in relation to math and science, I wasn't content with the idea of pursuing a career in either. I took time off from school and traveled for a short while. I even went to India and learned so much about not only where I come from, but also the families of my parents. However, what I learned most about was myself. I saw tons of schools over the course of several years, both in the United States and abroad. I saw education systems in the cities, as well as, in the country. Everytime I entered the classroom setting and witnessed the instruction, I felt this fire within me. I returned to college, but this time to Old Dominion University. I am currently in the 4+1 program, in which I will receive a Bachelor's of Arts in elementary education and a Master's Degree in Special Education.

Future Plans

I plan to graduate in May 2009 with my Bachelor's Degree. I hope to complete my Master's in Special Education in May 2010, after which I will work as a special education teacher. I also hope to work with several non-profit organizations in promoting education in impoverished areas abroad. One of my plans for the future that many find the most surprising is the fact that I will have an arranged marriage. My parents' marriage was actually arranged, as were the marriages of my grandparents on both sides of my family. Unfortunately, I have found that many people have strange misconceptions of what actually constitutes an arranged marriage. So if anyone is unsure or has questions, never be afraid to ask! Additional future plans include earning a Ph.D., one day becoming a professor, and (of course) visiting Alaska and Hawaii, so I can say I've been to all 50 states!

Personal Philosophy

My philosophy of life is derived from my own experiences with my Nanima (grandmother on my mother's side), who is shown standing next to me in the photograph above. Through her, I've learned not to take life for granted. That photograph was taken in May of this year. At 80 years old, she still went to the gym every other day. She was articulate and energetic then. However, I have watched her mind deteriorate unexpectedly over the last several months. I went from being her youngest granddaughter one day to becoming her caregiver the next. Even though I do not exist in her mind as being me at times, she reminds me daily that the memories we shared are still there. She laughs every time I ask her where my favorite smile went, something I had said frequently prior to her failing health.

To this day, she is the strongest woman I know and each day I watch her fight for moments of clarity. I have learned that worrying about the future is an endless task that takes me away from right now. I live each moment and strive to be present for every single one of those moments as they form new memories in my life. I practice patience and understanding, as well as, forgiveness. I have learned to accept that I will never be perfect and will often make mistakes. More than anything, I have learned to accept life for what it is. I now know how to take those things that seem like mishaps and turn them into something great. Whenever I look at my Nanima, I know that I live each day the way she would have wanted me to - joyfully and energetically. I know that in life I have a choice to either be someone who brings forth energy or someone who takes energy away from others. I, personally, choose not to be the latter.

Philosophy on Education

I believe that learning is a life-long process. I firmly believe that education is in our lives, one way or another, until our very last breath. Education incorporates not only academic instruction but also the development of social skills. I believe in an education system that supports the use of multiple learning styles, whether rote memory or kinesthetic learning. Finding a balance of these different styles in the classroom is key! Each student is different and learns in a different way than the student to the left or right. It is important for the teacher to connect with each student. Furthermore, as a teacher, it is important to emphasize higher learning. It is too often that students are not required to think at a higher level. Teachers should utilize each level of Bloom's Taxonomy during classroom instruction.

I have met many people who feel that learning should be fun; however, I do not see it that way. Learning is not always going to be fun, but it can be turned into something students enjoy. Fun and enjoyable do not mean the same thing! Teachers should strive to teach students how to make learning more enjoyable. It is important for students to learn that not everything in life will be fun; however, at least they can learn how to take something that may disinterest them at first, and turn it into an enjoyable experience. It is a far more challenging task; however, it is well worth the lesson.

My main goal as a future instructor is to help my students build confidence not only in the classroom, but within their own selves. Being confident, not to be confused with arrogance, helps the students better-develop self-esteem, self-control, and self-discipline. All three of these things lead to a more motivated individual and active learner! One great way to develop confidence is through reinforcement. I am a huge fan of positive reinforcement!

Other important skills that make a successful teacher are patience and understanding. Teachers, like students, must be aware and understanding of differences in individuals, especially culturally. It is vital to teach students to respect one another and to accept each others differences. Respect is not commanded but rather earned! The classroom environment should be one of respect and understanding. Teachers should teach students that by understanding one another, they can learn to accept each others differences. To accept does not mean to condone. Instead, it means merely to understand and acknowledge that a difference exists. This all builds a sense of security and belonging to the classroom setting!