From Pedagogue to Protégé by Samuel

From Pedagogue to Protégé by Samuel - July 2019 Scholarship Essay

When someone chases a dream, a great teacher along the way can be the difference between success and failure. One may put in countless hours to hone a craft, only to find their dream truly come into fruition after having received guidance from a mentor. Educators often provide their students with foresight into the field their pupils hope to thrive in: the ancient thinker Plato studied with the guru Socratese, and the renowned saxophonist Wayne Shorter was mentored by his band leader Art Blakey. Legendary coach John Wooden was a role model for countless young men in their personal lives and as basketball players over his three decade long career. All these extraordinary teachers have two passions in common: a love for the craft that they have mastered and a deep desire to help those that will succeed them. Thus, a passion for education is a commitment to both what one teaches and who they teach.

The teachers that make the most meaningful differences in their pupil’s lives must have deep rooted passions for the skills and subjects that they teach. After all, their expertise and years of experience is ultimately what warrants their role as a teacher. A prime example of experience in the teaching profession: a college professor with a PhD likely has close to ten years of higher education in their area of expertise before earning a teaching position at a university. The effectiveness of such teachers stems from the depth of their own work and the plethora of experiences they have garnered. The teachers most invested in the content of their teachings also have the most to offer to their students. As they have walked in the footsteps of their students years prior, they are aware of the challenges their students are bound to face and thus, can prepare them. A teacher’s personal devotion to their discipline is perhaps their greatest asset in developing their student’s skill set. The shared enthusiasm a teacher and student have for a topic creates common ground between the inexperienced student and the seasoned professional.

However, a teacher who only has a passion for their work is not likely to be a helpful mentor. A teacher should be expected to have knowledge and mastery of what they hope to teach but their passion for their craft is not a substitute to their compassion for their students. A great teacher seeks their student’s success with their students and makes their student’s goals their own. A pedagogue with all the wisdom in the world means nothing to a learner if the pedagogue does not make their findings accessible to those who hope to learn from them. Being an effective teacher is more than sharing information even still. If a teacher truly wants their students to succeed, they will not stop their work at the end of a lesson. Teachers time and time again go above and beyond for their students to help them in their journey’s. That may manifest itself as an algebra teacher staying after school to help a struggling child one on one.

A mentor may additionally go above and beyond by stepping outside of the role of ‘teacher’. The math teacher mentioned earlier may not be working through a math problem with her student, she might be helping her student navigate through a tough family situation. Mentors who support their students in all facets of their lives are the driving force behind their successes. As teachers sacrifice their time and energy for the well-being of their mentees, they demonstrate their fondness towards the students they teach, and their commitment to each student’s well being.

A passion for education is the determination to lift others up using the skills you have learned. In my experience, the teachers I have found the most helpful do exactly that. They contribute what they have learned to students like me as I continue on my own journey, perhaps with goals of being like them some day: a teacher. After all the greatest difference between the teacher and the student is experience. My best teachers have found ways to provide glimpses into their storied careers which in turn fosters my own initiative in pursuing my goals. I consider myself very fortunate to have worked with so many knowledgeable mentors throughout my life from coaches, to music instructors, and classroom teachers. While I carry on in my journey, I carry on a piece of them with me in the form of a word of advice or a powerful lesson. As I progress in my own ambitions, I hope one day to join the educational cycle and give back to the students of the future.