I found it fascinating how relevant the message that Chimamanda Adichie sends in this video is to the teaching profession. As I watched this video, I began to think about different types of assumptions I have made about a person that I just met or even a place that I just visited. These assumptions are so unfair, as there is so much more to a person or place then what you might see at the surface. As a teacher, it is so easy to make assumptions about a student based on only one or two things that you know about them. What is difficult is considering all of the different aspects of a student's identity and how they impact their learning environment. This is even harder if the background of the student is one that is unfamiliar to you. Student's background, culture, and identities play a major role in how they act, behave, and learn in the classroom, which is why it is so important as a teacher to make an effort to learn about your student's lives. Asking questions and making an effort to learn about a student's identity not only can mean a lot to them, but also helps you see the bigger picture and adapt your teaching strategies based on each individual's specific needs.
