Have you found your gift?

This challenge couldn't have come at a better time. As I am personally trying to figure out what is my passion? Where do I get my inspiration?

Call it a midlife crisis?

I think at some point of our lives we all reflect upon our career choices. I think it's normal and actually healthy. Our careers take up a big part of our lives after all. Its healthy because we realize that we are open to growth and change.

I have asked myself this question multiple times... will I always be a teacher?

Steve Harvey recently helped me figure out this answer.

In one of his inspirational speeches, he suggested that to find happiness in your work, you must find your gift, not your passion. What is it that you do effortlessly? What comes to you naturally? This is what you should be doing as a career. Look for your gift. He goes on to say, we are born with a gift. The challenge is to find it, recognize it, and do something about it. If you wake up every morning dreading to go to work, then you are not in your element.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

My family

My sister is 8 years younger than me. As a teen, these 8 years make a huge difference. Not so much as adults now. However, growing up, I was the one helping my parents to take care of her. I even named her !

I was the designated one to plan and organize events for her and her friends. So the gift of caring for others was manifested a long time ago!

My father was a history teacher and told me countless stories about his methods of teaching. Perhaps he contributed to passing on the gene of teaching.

My mother, who is also the eldest amongst her siblings, was and still is the tough, strong woman I look up to. She is a leader from a young age taking on the role of the big sister, like myself. She is and has always been a leader in her work, which ever company she was employed in. In fact, she trains people as well.

My parents were my inspiration growing up, they were great role models.

Every endeavor you partake in, no matter how small or big, do it to the max of your ability, and do it well. Don’t accept anything less.

Wise words coming from my wise mother, Iman. Coincidentally means, in Arabic, faith. She always told me to have faith in yourself and in God. Indeed I do. I believe that God's always got my back and He carves the righteous path for us.

So I took those words seriously. I did not take them with a grain of salt. I have been a leader since high school. I took care of children at Sunday school. I also volunteered as a supervisor at the YMCA during the youth activities. I worked at McDonald’s, and quickly became a crew trainer. All this before the age of 20 years old.

However, in the backseat, there was a writer’s hat I wore once in a while as well as the occasional actress’ hat.

Fast-forward to University, choosing education was a natural choice. (maybe journalism or theatre?) Despite my father trying to convince me to become a dentist, I knew that I wanted to be around children not teeth! 😄

There were multiple professors that helped shape the type of teacher I am today. That’s another article for another day in and of itself! However I can tell you one small story about one inspirational professor. — Dr. Schwarcz

I walk into the organic chemistry 3 course and I’m already dreading the long hours. Will this professor be as boring as the last one? I can just imagine Dr. Charlie Brown throwing away his carbons and hydrogens and oxygens at me. It will all sound like gibberish to me. (Side note: Charlie Brown’s real character passed away last month in January)

Anyway, as students trickle in to the large auditorium, in walks Dr. Schwarcz with a remote control in his hand to control the Power Point. No, he most certainly did not look like Charlie Brown.😂The first thing he displayed on the screen were photoshopped insect pictures with his face and a colleague’s face instead of the insects’. He used these images to introduce organic compounds that insects release to communicate.

That’s it! He got me! Finally a chemistry professor with a sense of humor! I knew right there and then that this was the type of teacher I wanted to become. (I later used the above idea to explain that the density of salt in the Dead Sea allows us to float!!)

Now all those carbons, hydrogens, and oxygens made sense in my brain. He did not sound like Charlie Brown! Dr. Schwarcz knew how to turn something as complicated as organic chemistry into something easy and relevant. He knew how to captivate his audience. Watching him teach, was like watching a toned down Bill Nye the science guy — limited edition. He knew how to connect with 200 people instantly! That takes skill my friends! Actually, there it was: the gift.

But I still loved writing and acting!

I was in a conundrum because as much as I loved teaching, I also loved writing and acting in plays. Teaching would give me job security for sure. So what did I do with all this? I married my love for writing and acting with teaching. I always say that my classroom is my stage. My desk/ office is the backstage. My lessons are my scripts.

Did I mention that I acted in a semi professional troop? Yep, at least I did it as a hobby. I am in fact very dynamic when I teach. I use music, comedy, storytelling, miming, and I get the students involved.

Teaching science has given me the opportunity to be extremely creative in the way I deliver the curriculum that we are conformed to.

Why science?

Because it’s interesting. I’m very intrigued by all the how’s and the why’s in the world.

They called me the Rock Lady! Rocks and minerals are fascinating, yes they are, don’t laugh! They are not just inanimate objects. It is fascinating to learn about the dynamics of Earth and the path a rock takes to become the way it is. You can tell a lot about what happened in the land just by observing the rocks, minerals and/or the soil. All the intricacies of the colors and textures are fascinating to me. Rocks are under a lot of pressure! They get a lot of heat ! 🤣

Rocks wouldn’t be fun to talk about without first playing We Will Rock You by Queen.

That was a must!

OK enough about rocks!

Actually, just one last thing about rocks. I do have a supporting rock, my husband. He’s the realist that I need in my life to help me anchor my ideas. He helps direct my crazy brain into something more concrete. He’s got that analytical, financial and computer mind that aid in grounding me. Added bonus : computer skills, from Mr Excel himself :)

Thank you my rock, my companion, Rafik.

Present time?

I recently started teaching science in the STEAM program. (Science technology engineering arts mathematics) This is up my alley. The students in there remind me of myself. As much as they like science and they are good at it, they also enjoy arts.

So there you have it, my brain is like a potpourri of various skills. Have I found my gift? I believe so. Teaching. It does come naturally.

Teaching allows me to be the caregiver, the scientist and the artist all in one. Its a full package.

Someday I dream to write a book and to inspire other teachers, in fact its on my bucket list.

Someday I would like to educate science teachers on how to blend science and arts when possible. I would like to put the pizazz back into teaching science.

How about you? Have you found your gift?