Life’s experiences, through trials, tribulations, shared experiences, and successes have formed my philosophy of education. It is those experiences which have molded and shaped my values, enhancing my view on the importance of education for all [communities], particularly communities of underrepresented populations.
Nelson Mandela stated, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” I believe that education via formal or informal methods are vital to the existence, growth, and empowerment of individuals. One essential question that impacts my view of education is, what does it mean to be educated? Education is defined uniquely by each individual, culture, and society. I believe all individuals should have access to quality education, a basic human right, afforded by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Equality of educational opportunity throughout the nation continues today for many to be more a myth than a reality (Kozol,1991 p.80). As educational professionals, it is our duty to guide, support, and insure that our student’s needs are met during this lifelong learning process. Establishing relationships with students is essential, it is the basic foundation for developing a partnership, and positively impacting student success.