User:Dbrod001

The Basics
Hi! My name is Daisy and I was born in the Philippines, but I moved and was assimilated into American culture at a very young age. Don't bother asking me to speak Tagalog, because I only remember very few words. We moved to Virginia when I was eight... I think, and we've lived in the same house ever since.

Education Background
Locally, I spent a year at Granby High before transferring over to Norview. I graduated from that amazing place in 2005, and enrolled at ODU with accounting as my declared major. After last spring, I (finally) made the switch over to English with emphasis in Education. It was a big change, and I have a lot of catching up to do, but it was - and still is -  well  worth it.

The Future
After getting my Bachelor's, I plan on teaching in Norfolk Public Schools, preferably Norview High School, for a few years. That's where I met some of the best teachers I've ever come across, and I'd like to return the favor. I've always wanted to live in a more rural area, probably somewhere up in the mountains near Charlottesville. I've also been thinking about getting my Masters in English at UVA, if I don't get it while I'm still in Norfolk.

Hobbies & Interests
First and foremost, let me go ahead and point out that I am a big Star Wars fan!! With that out of the way, I enjoy reading, writing, drawing, and photography. My favorite genre is probably science fiction or fantasy, but I love a good old literary novel every now and then - especially everything and anything by Jane Austin. Outside of the artsy stuff, I like to work on my car and watch the military planes fly over my house. I enjoy having fun & going out shopping. I firmly believe that shopping is a necessity in life and is the ultimate cure-all... next to ice cream, of course.

Educational Philosophy
I haven't thought much about my own educational philosophy before, but right now I would have to say that I'd have to follow the lead of the teachers that have inspired me throughout my educational career to become a teacher. I believe there is a difference between a good teacher and a great teacher. A good teacher gets the course content across to the students, assigns homework and tests that reflect the material taught, and generally gets the job done with out much trouble. A great teacher, however, gets students involved in the classroom, helping them excel in their work, and changing a teaching method to better suit the students. Great teachers go beyond the normal job description and become a role model, and maybe even a mentor. They inspire students to reach for their goals, and to work hard to reach their dreams.

This doesn't apply to just "normal" kids, but to all students from all walks of life - including those with special needs. A passionate teacher is one that cares enough about educating the future that differences such as a disorder or physical impairment will not stand in the way of offering everyone equal education. All students should be able to learn and interact with one another in the same classroom, and the school system should do its part in making sure that no student is hindered from learning just because of a disorder or impairment. Everyone should have an equal opportunity to learn, and everyone deserves a classroom setting that stimulates their mind, motivates them to succeed, and genuinely leave school enjoying the experience.

I can honestly say that, because of the teachers I was fortunate enough to have during my three years at Norview, I was able to experience and witness all that I have mentioned above. I thoroughly enjoyed my classes, because of the teachers that put in so much time and effort to make the courses interesting and interactive. I can only hope to continue the teaching methods and philosophies they have bestowed on me by becoming a teacher and (hopefully) positively affecting future generations.