Ten years have gone when I saw the dream to teach in a Canadian University (2010 to now). It is high time now to do the strategic planning of my next 10 years : Vision 2030 - my next steps in 2020.
Completing PIDP Diploma is one of my goals in 2020 which will be a new makeshift arrangement in the journey of my life, both professionally as well as in personal life.
When I immigrated to Canada in 2003, I had just completed my Ph.D. which I did with a goal in mind to be promoted from Assistant Professor (Instructor) to Associate Professor position, for better salary, more social respect, and so to say progress in my career scale. But I got none because just after completing my Ph.D. we moved to Canada and I had to quit my job from a Medical School in India.
I started again from step -1 on the ladder of a brand-new professional
career in Canada. I was suggested by a friend to do PIDP diploma if I wished to
teach as University Instructor in Canada (BC) but I was not ready at that time
because I thought, “What for?” My argument was that after teaching 15 years in
a Medical School and having a Phd. degree from a reputed University, “I know
it all”! When I was not successful in getting in as an Instructor after
numerous attempts, I was under the impression that Canadian Universities have
hidden racism, that’s why they are not hiring me otherwise what else?? It could
be true to some extent with White Supremacy very obviously visible in hiring
practices because the racial profiles of instructors did not match with the
diversity of the students. Or another factor could be the lack of knowledge and
experience in Canadian teaching and learning styles; online Moodle and Blackboard
as significant component in teaching and interacting with the students, use of professional
instructional strategies, curriculum designs, evaluation principles in my teaching.
Ten years later, in 2013 again I was introduced to the
Department Head of Upgrading department of University of the Fraser Valley (UFV)
and he said, “we have a position of Biology Sessional Instructor but you don’t
have PIDP Diploma”. Humm...Really? PIDP is the only barrier to be hired as an
instructor in a Canadian University? The
same evening, I came home and sent an email to Vancouver Career College to
enroll myself in PIDP course. Again, I was aiming to do this course to be a
successful Instructor in a post-secondary Institution to earn money, better
salary, better professional and social standing to boost my self-esteem as
described in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
While doing my first module online PIDP 3100, I realistically
realized, “I don’t know it all” because that was my brand-new experience
studying an online course and submitting my assignments online, making my first
blog sitting with study buddy in their kitchen and both of us struggling how to
create a blog! The instructor doesn’t teach you like a behaviorist teaches in
the class but the instructor is here to answer our questions and empower us
towards self-directed learning. I had never written essays before as I was a
science student throughout and had gained expertise seeing human cells under
the microscope only. Everyday I felt discouraged to quit and free myself from
this “PIDP bug” and change my decision to teach in a Canadian University. But I
don’t know what was that driving force within me which kept me going …After writing
my first essay for 3100, I looked at Maslow’s triangle many times. What was
that driving force, after all? This time it was not the salary, professional
position and social standing, nor my ego to pursue to not see me as a failure
once started on something ….it was something else! I looked at the tip of the
iceberg again and again – I believed that it was my quest to reach
self-actualization stage! Since, I had already reached up to the level 4 (Self-
esteem) while working with non-profits and doing some remarkable projects in
the fields of multiculturalism and gained enough social respect working with
diverse community, educating the workplaces, businesses and the community at
large about racism and building welcoming and inclusive communities, the bottom
4 stages of Maslow’s triangle were easily achieved in 10 years. On top of the
that I also did some community-based public health research projects in
partnerships with UBC, my professional satisfaction as a researcher was also
met. The only reason I was not giving up on my PIDP diploma was to reach the
stage 5 – the highest stage of self-actualization. It took me long time to
reach that stage due to many personal and professional reasons, but I feel,
longer I took, deeper I have understood the purpose of my life, what
self-actualization means to me.
Yes, “I didn’t know it all” before starting PIDP, and I still have to know a lot even after completing my diploma. I have a whole agenda in-front of me what I have planned to do in the next 10 years - my vision 2030!
I have recently
accepted a new position of Coordinator, South Asian Studies Institute at UFV, which
involves teaching / community education outside the classrooms. It’s my dream job and I don't mind retiring at this job because it takes me closer to the feeling of self-actualization. I will be working among the
faculty of students (including international students with diverse backgrounds), fellow-professionals and the community members; as well as, I will be
a part of the academic research teams conducting humanistic research work and educating one-another through various
models, for example, guest lectures, conferences, exhibitions, art, curations in our
local museums and engaging with our community at temples and other community
service places. This work is going to engage me with the whole village of stakeholders in order to build partnerships while sharing Government fundings. I am very excited about my new job for multiple opportunities to
teach and learn at every step of my work.
In addition to my work front, I was going through the
Brookfield’s book “The Skillful Teacher” chapters 8 and 9, that is Teaching in
Diverse Classrooms and Teaching about Racism, respectively. I am interested in
these two areas from the core of my heart. After going through the chapters, I
realized that I have been already teaching in diverse classrooms while working
as workshop facilitator for employability skills and anti-racism.
There is lot to learn and work on myself which I have already
started in the last few years. Recently I took Vipassana Meditation Training
from India and learnt some mindfulness meditation techniques, which are very
helpful in staying focused, efficient and complete my short-term goals with a
purpose driven life. This training is taking me closer to my long-term goal of
reaching self-actualization and helping me to have a clear vision what I want
to do in next 5 years.
Recently, I came across these 3 books which are on my bedside
and I wish to read these books in the year 2020.
In addition, I got some guidance from this blog, “make learning a lifelong habit”, which I recently found on my LinkedIn. I learnt from this blog that it is important to strategize my professional development and keep learning by making some SMART goals. On my professional front and if I am ever hired as an instructor either sessional or permanent, I would like to practice online teaching for any post-secondary institution, using my vlogs, video-lectures, real-time online teaching by going live with the class, using zoom or similar online tools for teaching. It is a revolutionary period of dynamic shift in teaching methodologies especially during the era of Covid19 and I am very ambitious to utilize all modern teaching tools with or without technology. I have a passion to continue teaching in diverse classrooms when the definition of “diverse” is not limited to racial and cultural but people of different abilities, socio-economic-domestic stabilities, intellectual calibers and people with diverse personal interests and goals of life. I wish to continue educating about racism whether it is #blacklivesmatter or islamophobia or hyphenated cultural stigmas. Brookfield's ‘The Skillful Teacher’ is another book which I would like to keep on my bedside and read chapter by chapter until I become a skillful teacher myself.
In the end I would
like to summarize with what John Coleman says in his blog, make learning a
lifetime habit, “We’re all born with a natural curiosity. We want to learn. But the
demands of work and personal life often diminish our time and will to engage
that natural curiosity. Developing specific learning habits — consciously
established and conscientiously cultivated — can be a route to both continued
professional relevance and deep personal happiness. Maybe Roosevelt had it
right: a lifetime of learning can be a success in itself.”
References:
Brookfield, S.D., (2015): The Skillful Teacher – On Techniques, Trust
and Responsiveness in the Classroom. (2nd Edition). The Jossey-Bass -Higher and
Adult Education Series. P. 97 – 124.
2.
McLoad, S. Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs: Simple Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
3. Coleman, J. Harvard Business Review. Make Learning a life-long
habit https://hbr.org/2017/01/make-learning-a-lifelong-habit?utm_campaign=hbr&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin
I really enjoyed reading your journey as I think I can connect with what you would have felt as an immigrant ans I am in the same shoes. It's very good to hear that you have got your dream job. Congratulations for that!
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