[ndo5021]

I think power is largely psychological. If society tells us we are in power, then we are. If society tells us we are oppressed, then we are. It takes a lot of strength to ignore what people are saying around you, but I feel that sometimes ignoring others is precisely what gives you power to achieve whatever you may choose to do. I agree there is a major problem with how students view their instructors – they shouldn’t feel inferior, but should respect their instructors and feel that they are allowed to enter a dialogue with them even if their opinions differ. As a future educator, I think the most important thing I can do for my students is help them realize they are in control of themselves. Others can tell them how to think, feel, or whether or not they have power, but ultimately, all a person must do to have power is believe that they have power. As an educator I find it incredibly important that I do not teach students what to think but instead how to think and make their own decisions, just like Alex points out. I’ve come to love the term a professor came up with – “confident creators” because it is truly my goal as an educator to create artists who are confident in themselves and have the skills and bravery to approach any kind of project, whether it be art based or not.

[Author]

Posts