My Personal Values

1.      Dependability

2.      Honesty

3.      Cheerfulness

4.      Helpfulness

5.      Open Mindedness

 Figuring out which values I hold most dear was a challenging task. As I read the list, I wanted to put all of the values on my list. After a while I was finally able to narrow it down to these five by rationalizing that many of the ones I had previously could somehow be included in these five values. The most difficult part was putting them in order. I asked myself, “How am I supposed to put one of these values above another when all are equally important?” However, when I eventually determined the order I felt alright about the order I had put them in. It was a challenging task to be sure, but felt almost fulfilling in the end.

            These five values I believe are the things that will help me to become the kind of teacher that I want to be. I put dependability first because there is nothing worse than a teacher who is a flake, someone you cannot depend on. A student will appreciate you somewhat if they know they can depend up on you. No matter what other qualities you have dependability is something that can always be relied upon and valued in society as well as in the teaching world. I will strive to be that kind of teacher that students can count on me no matter what.

            Second is honesty. As I grew up learning, honesty is the best policy. If we are not honest no one will believe us or trust us. If I want my students to trust me and know that they can get help from me or tell me anything then I need to be honest! My students will not feel comfortable getting help if they know that I will not be honest with them. I believe that being honest solves many issues in the classroom. As a teacher, you must be honest with yourself as well as with the students. If the students take a test and all fail, you must honestly evaluate your teaching. However, you must be honest with your students and let them know exactly what you expect from them in your class. Honesty will help the classroom be a place that students know they can come to and know they are hearing the truth.

I put cheerfulness next because I am a firm believer in the positive. Positive feelings, positive encouragement and a positive atmosphere are all things that I have valued in past classrooms. It makes learning and teaching so much more enjoyable if there is positivity in the classroom. I want my students to enjoy their experience in my classroom and I know that one way I can do this is to make sure that my classroom only permeates the positive. This must start with me. No matter what is going on in my home life, I need to set that aside when I come to school. I will be a happy and cheerful teacher, which will make me more approachable and in turn help the student feel like that can do well.

             Fourth is helpfulness, which I think is a value that all teachers should possess. If you are not a helpful teacher, no student will like to come to your class. I always enjoyed the classes that I knew the teacher would help me if I had questions. I want to be that kind of teacher as well. The students will love you if you are willing to help them! There is a fine line though between helping them understand and just telling them how to do something. I believe that teacher must learn how to give help, not just do it for them. If a teacher can learn to help then the students will actually learn something in their class. I know that I will have to find that balance and to do that I will have to get to know my students.

            Finally I believe that as a teacher you must be open minded. Being open minded will help you know how to help each student individually and to be more aware of each student’s needs. Also being open minded can help you as a teacher be more accepting of evaluations and of new ways to do things. Accepting both of these things will be helpful because you can grow as a teacher. Teachers always need to improve so being willing and open to new suggestions is a teacher’s salvation. I will strive to be as open to change as I can be. This will also help me to be aware of how I can help each student.

            Values are an important thing that each individual and teacher must cherish. Deciding my own personal values was difficult, but in the end what I learned about myself was more than valuable. Through this enumeration of my top values I can strive to be the kind of teacher that I want to be.

1.      Patience  

2.      Dependability

3.      Cheerfulness

4.      Helpfulness

5.      Perseverance

6.      Fun

7.      Organization

8.      Open mindedness

9.      Loyalty

10.  Honesty

11.  Hard work

12.  Safety

13.  Courage

14.  Imaginative

15.  Cooperation

16.  Respect

17.  Kindness

18.  Integrity

19.  Generosity

20.  Progress

1.      Patience

2.      Dependability

3.      Cheerfulness

4.      Helpfulness

5.      Perseverance

6.      Fun

7.      Organization

8.      Open mindedness

9.      Loyalty

10.  Honesty 

Being the Other

Being the Other

            The Velour is a place I have heard of and even seen in the movie theaters when they try to make Provo seem like a fun place to be, but never in my dreams would I have imagined I would end up there on a Saturday night, alone. The live band scene is never something I have been remotely interested in or felt like I would belong in. Yet, there I was walking up to the doors, holding my purse in one hand and my camera in another. I had always had a prejudice against those that either went to the Velour or those that had their bands perform at the Velour. I thought that they were all un-talented and desperate for attention. Little did I know, I would come to see just how wrong I was to assume such things. I had no experience to go off of; I had just presumed that these people only came to the Velour because no other place would accept them.

On the outside the Velour seems like an old saloon, but as I opened the door the environment totally changed. The walls were plastered with odd, mismatched paintings or totally random things like angel wings and a chipped sign. In the middle of the room, one small disco ball rotated above. It felt as if I was walking into a 20^th century magic show with all the random objects around. All around the room were placed various seating arrangements. There were low tables with chairs, high tables with chairs, and a couch that was on the ground and finally there were various tiered, large, steps that people were sitting on.

 

 

It all seemed very odd to me and I felt as if I stuck out like a sore thumb. A couple of people stared at me and gave me weird looks, which made me shrink back even more. At first I just stood there soaking up the scene. I tried to stay back and observe what was going on. Nothing really happened for a while. People simply sat and chatted with each other. I noticed a couple of people sipping Coke from a bottle. I looked around and noted the kind of people that were there. There were a lot of hipsters in the place, and they all seemed to group together. I observed that there was also a group of Goth looking people. On that note, the women either wore no make-up, like the hipsters, or a ton of very black make-up, like the Goths. I also noted a young family in the crowd and figured they might be there to support the band. They didn’t really seem to belong, yet neither did I.  I felt out of place to be so, what I consider “normal.” I felt alone and very uncomfortable. I was not used to being with people so different from me, but I tried to get up my courage and join the crowds as the music began.  

When the music finally started I was confused, it looked like the guy was just messing with this phone and had background sounds going, yet the lights were dimmed and people had stood up and looked excited. After a little while I finally realized that the guy hunched over his phone was the musician and he was actually playing music! I felt really stupid because I clearly didn’t appreciate modern, Indie music like the people there that night did. I felt “un-cultured” and even though I tried to blend in with the crowd, it seemed to me that my lack of experience with live band performances radiated from me like a light bulb. However as the night went on I realized that I had totally judged the bands that perform there. They are actually very talented! My preconceived, inexperienced notion that they were all un-talented was totally false! In the end I found I actually enjoyed myself! Granted, I still didn’t feel like I was part of the crowd, but I learned to enjoy the experience!

These experiences I had taught me to not judge people without experiencing being in their presence first. This valuable lesson can help me as teacher with students who don’t feel like they belong in a classroom. I can help people experience interacting with one another in ways that are safe and comfortable and will allow other students to get to know each other. I strongly believe that the thing that pushed me past my preconceived prejudice was actually interacting with these people I had judged. It is easy to find something you like about someone once you’ve actually spent time with them. I can help my students feel comfortable with each other and that way they can overcome any preconceived notions about one another. Also interacting with each other will create bonds and friendships that will make the class become a more enjoyable place to be. I am so glad that I went to the Velour and learned that I can learn to overcome my prejudices.