EDGR_502_ANJEL_MAGEE_Character Mentor
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Jan 9, 2024
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Running head: CHJARACTER MENTOR
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Anjel Magee
Character Mentor
Concordia University
EDGR 502: Developing Character through the Curriculum
Running head: CHJARACTER MENTOR
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When I met Dr. Smith, at that time she was Mrs. Smith, I was merely a sophomore at Dillard
University embarking on my journey as an educator. Taking my first of many mandatory classes where
she was the instructor, I had no idea how my life was about to change.
Although I was only a student she
saw aspects of greatness in me during my hardest moments. I believe we helped each other grow
professionally and personally. She is the most caring, genuine and honest individual I did not know I had
in my life. When I needed a shoulder to cry on, a place to hide when life became overwhelming, a
surrogate mother to discipline me or a friend to make me laugh she was there in her office. Through Dr.
Smith’s actions as an instructor I was able to see the type of person and instructor I strived to be today.
Being a college student you are considered to be an adult and Dr. Smith understood the need for
her students be grow as adults, but also treated us like a loving mother. When she conducted classes her
approach was not to lecture or demand, but to foster curiosity of the topic invoking a natural need for
answers. Classes were considered discussions and she cared more about the needs of the students then
her own. She always asked if I was eating or getting enough sleep. She knew when something was
bothering me and knew exactly what to say to make me feel better without pressuring me to share. We
began every class with a stress relieving technique and if she noticed more than one students was
distracted or overwhelmed due to finals or testing she gave us a snack and sent us home. Lickona said
“education has had two great goals: to help people become smarter and to help them become good”
(Lickona, 1993). By allowing classes to become venting sessions about other instructors or life skills
sessions and lessons where she listened, taught and gave advise she effectively conquered both
educational goals. Dr. Smith was great at using every opportunity to teach more than the subject, but to
prepare us for life and the hardships that it would give; but, in her actions she also showed how amazing
it could be when you are prepared and have someone like her on your side. By Dr. Smith caring so much
about me and my future I worked hard not to let her down. I never missed classes, I completed
Running head: CHJARACTER MENTOR
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assignments and ate daily. I strived to make her proud and at that moment she succeeded as an
instructor.
From Dr. Smith’s innate ability to care and never give up on me, I finally graduated from Dillard
University with my degree in education after numerous setbacks and a mandatory year break. Her
consistency has taught me to never give up on myself or my students. As I am currently a pre-
kindergarten teacher, it is a part of my curriculum to not only teach academics, but also to teach good
character and proper social skills. From Dr. Smith I learned that it is more important to be myself and
show students how much I care about them. To build a caring relationship where I am trusted by
students and to be a positive in a world of negative will prove to be the best lesson. Through my
experience with Dr. Smith I deliberately display all the characteristics I expect from my students including
honesty, respect and love. As said by John Luther” Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We
have to build it piece by piece” (Adams, 2005) so I tell them daily that I love them and I believe in them. I
succeeded because I was given care and love from an instructor; and, because of that I see how
beneficial it is for both student and teacher to create and foster such a significant relationship. To Dr.
Smith I am eternally grateful.
While receiving formal education to become an educator there are no classes to teach you good
character. It is assumed that you naturally have it because you are an educator, but we all know this is
false. There is no better teacher than life and I am thankful to have had a great example. I want to be as
much of a positive influence in my student’s life as Dr. Smith was in mine. As I review, create and teach
the curriculum I see how administration is more focused on the academic aspect of students and not the
whole child. With the pressure of necessary success placed on everyone’s shoulders I can see how it can
be easily forgotten, but through my positive behavior plan, good character chart and daily moral lessons
I ensure to create an environment that fosters proper behavior. “As educators and parents, we all share a
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Running head: CHJARACTER MENTOR
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concern that our children will risk their lives and futures by making poor or even life-threatening
decisions” (
Stiff-Williams, 2010).
I only give positive reinforcements to encourage great decision making
in hopes of creating a lifelong domino effect on students in class and out.
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References
Lickona, T. (1993). The return of character education.
Educational leadership
,
51
(3), 6-11.
Stiff-Williams, H. R. (2010). Widening the lens to teach character education alongside standards
curriculum.
The Clearing House
,
83
(4), 115-120.
Adams, J. L., Brandt, B., & Otte, A. (2005). A brief history of noise: John Luther Adams and Allen Otte in
conversation. New York: Mode Records.