Author: Farha

Teaching Self

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” – William Arthur Ward

Teaching, to me, is an engagement in a communication or conversation between teacher and student that produces a harmonious music. It is a learning and growing opportunity for both, the teachers and students. Whenever I thought of myself as a teacher, I have always felt a multitude of complex emotions.

At a very early stage in my education, I struggled to cope with increased academic stakes of not getting higher grades and always being in a competition with peers that I often found myself being in a constant state of confusion and lack of interest in learning. Consequently, I had been trying to hide myself and getting even poorer grade until one of my 8th grade teacher noticed my struggle and lack of interest in chasing grades. He encouraged me to study beyond the syllabus of social sciences and always reminded me of my potential to do great things in the world, even with my poor grades and lack of much understanding about the world. However, his approach worked and beyond that point, I started enjoying school and gained confidence in my ability. Gradually, my grades started improving and I topped in 9th grade class. I somehow remembered his until now and continued to do well in my further academic journey.

Looking back in the past, I always wonder how my life-path could have been different have not my teacher been so kind, compassionate and motivating towards me. What I have learned throughout my academic journey is that, a teacher can have a remarkable impact on her student’s development and as a teacher, in the least I can always give my students a gift of appreciation and acknowledgement of their work and effort and help them to look into the positive aspects.

I believe in the uniqueness of every students and I am interested in creating a classroom atmosphere where they can share their opinions and knowledge with other students. In addition to delivering knowledge, understanding the learning differences among students and helping them grow in their unique potential with empathy can optimize the educational outcomes in a learning environment. As a teacher, my goal, therefore, is to help student, irrespective of the differences and challenges they might bring to the learning environment, to nurture their unique potential and help them thrive.

 

Three P’s : For the love of Research & Life

“Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” – Theodore Roosevelt

After completing my undergraduate and master’s degree in Economics from University of Dhaka, I worked as a researcher for about two years in two Multidisciplinary Policy Oriented research organization. I developed my skill as a researcher and a dedication towards research work. When I came to Virginia Tech, for pursuing a doctorate degree in Economics, I was excited! All I had, in abundance, was passion. I did not know what I was going to do (not that I have figured everything out by now). All I knew that I would be doing something amazing that would change the world for better.

Time passed, I did no research in the first two years of my PhD program. All I did was studying for classes and getting through the dreadful Qualifier exam! In the Spring of 2015, I finally started working on a research project for my Dissertation. YAY!  In one moment, I was excited, in another, I was lost! There was always something missing! I did not know why I am even doing the research work, I didn’t really feeling any sense of satisfaction. Later I figured, what I was missing.

I did not have the much needed perspective back then. I found that perspective when I went to conduct a field level survey of 800 vegetable farmers of Bangladesh and spend the whole summer of 2015 doing that. Being born in a middle class family, I have seen my share of struggles. But, at the same time, I had the privilege of being well-fed, having quality education, healthcare etc. I knew there were people who were in a worse situation than us; I knew there were people working so hard to keep their head above water; I knew there were so much we can do to make the world a better place for all of us. But I never had the opportunity to meet people who are actually different than me (off-course that was mostly because 1) my parents were always protective of me and 2) I am an introverted person).

While doing the survey, I met so many people, did get to know about their lives, their struggles, their day-to-day challenges. Being on the road, walking miles after miles, in a hot and humid Summer (temperature ranged between 34 to 40 degrees Celsius) to track down the farmers, was anything but easy! I worked 7am to 8pm non-stop, I ate a single meal every day, I was dehydrated, I cried in my hotel at night and I lost a lot of weight in 3 months. But I have gained the perspective! I came out of that as a different person.

Through the survey work, I did get to talk with so many people (farmers and their family members), interact with the female farmers (primary as well as secondary) and female members of the households on issues regarding their unequal access to resources and weak bargaining power in decision making. I did get to talk about their relationship, their level of schooling and sometimes the hardship. To be honest, there was no fixed topic of discussion. I absorbed everything that they had to share with me. By far, that was the most rewarding experiences of my life. Because only in those moments, I could see how my work can play a significant role in changing the lives of these people. I understood the gravity of my work and I appreciated the chance to contribute in a field that has so much potential in making the everyday life of the poor and marginally poor people from developing countries. Every time, I think of how my work and research outcome can impact the life of those people I met in the summer of 2015, I get goosebumps and skip a heartbeat every time (I do not have any better phrase to explain that feeling). It is exactly like the magical sensation of falling in love. That gives me gratitude and fills my heart with joy.

The other joyful part of my research is that I get to learn so much every single day (with some occasional exceptions when I curse myself for coming back to graduate school). I love to learn. As an individual, I have always felt that my purpose in this world is to seek as much as knowledge and accumulate wisdom along the way. I can understand how corny it might sound, but it has been the only way to satisfy my thirst in this spiritual quest, I call life!

 

—to be continued—

 

 

 

Uncategorized

Three P’s : For the love of Research & Life

“Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” – Theodore Roosevelt

After completing my undergraduate and master’s degree in Economics from University of Dhaka, I worked as a researcher for about two years in two Multidisciplinary Policy Oriented research organization. I developed my skill as a researcher and a dedication towards research work. When I came to Virginia Tech, for pursuing a doctorate degree in Economics, I was excited! All I had, in abundance, was passion. I did not know what I was going to do (not that I have figured everything out by now). All I knew that I would be doing something amazing that would change the world for better.

Time passed, I did no research in the first two years of my PhD program. All I did was studying for classes and getting through the dreadful Qualifier exam! In the Spring of 2015, I finally started working on a research project for my Dissertation. YAY!  In one moment, I was excited, in another, I was lost! There was always something missing! I did not know why I am even doing the research work, I didn’t really feeling any sense of satisfaction. Later I figured, what I was missing.

I did not have the much needed perspective back then. I found that perspective when I went to conduct a field level survey of 800 vegetable farmers of Bangladesh and spend the whole summer of 2015 doing that. Being born in a middle class family, I have seen my share of struggles. But, at the same time, I had the privilege of being well-fed, having quality education, healthcare etc. I knew there were people who were in a worse situation than us; I knew there were people working so hard to keep their head above water; I knew there were so much we can do to make the world a better place for all of us. But I never had the opportunity to meet people who are actually different than me (off-course that was mostly because 1) my parents were always protective of me and 2) I am an introverted person).

While doing the survey, I met so many people, did get to know about their lives, their struggles, their day-to-day challenges. Being on the road, walking miles after miles, in a hot and humid Summer (temperature ranged between 34 to 40 degrees Celsius) to track down the farmers, was anything but easy! I worked 7am to 8pm non-stop, I ate a single meal every day, I was dehydrated, I cried in my hotel at night and I lost a lot of weight in 3 months. But I have gained the perspective! I came out of that as a different person.

Through the survey work, I did get to talk with so many people (farmers and their family members), interact with the female farmers (primary as well as secondary) and female members of the households on issues regarding their unequal access to resources and weak bargaining power in decision making. I did get to talk about their relationship, their level of schooling and sometimes the hardship. To be honest, there was no fixed topic of discussion. I absorbed everything that they had to share with me. By far, that was the most rewarding experiences of my life. Because only in those moments, I could see how my work can play a significant role in changing the lives of these people. I understood the gravity of my work and I appreciated the chance to contribute in a field that has so much potential in making the everyday life of the poor and marginally poor people from developing countries. Every time, I think of how my work and research outcome can impact the life of those people I met in the summer of 2015, I get goosebumps and skip a heartbeat every time (I do not have any better phrase to explain that feeling). It is exactly like the magical sensation of falling in love. That gives me gratitude and fills my heart with joy.

The other joyful part of my research is that I get to learn so much every single day (with some occasional exceptions when I curse myself for coming back to graduate school). I love to learn. As an individual, I have always felt that my purpose in this world is to seek as much as knowledge and accumulate wisdom along the way. I can understand how corny it might sound, but it has been the only way to satisfy my thirst in this spiritual quest, I call life!

 

—to be continued—

 

 

 

Uncategorized