3 of 63

Write now Article Tools

If I were to ask you what is the greatest teaching tool of all time? What would you say? Would you say the computer? Would you say the teacher? Would you say a school? Possibly all three? Well, as a teacher, I have found that teachers wonder about their skills in teaching. Schools worry if they are really providing the education the students will need to compete in the global market. And the computer is only as good as the user and can only gather that information that already exist.

So what is the greatest teaching tool of all time? It is this question-"Who am I"? Upon entering college in 1973 one of the first assignments I was given by an english teacher was to write an essay entitled "Who Am I?" The challenge was to write on paper who I thought my self to be. What I discovered is that I really did not know who I am or was at that time. For eighteen years I had lived life to its fullest only to discover that I didn't know who I was. I didn't really know my name. Yes I could spell it, write it, and say it but I didn't know what my name meant. I didn't know why I was alive and I really didn't know where I was going in life.

As a teacher, I now require students in my class, who range from age 15 to 18, to write an essay describing who they are without using their name, their parents name, their address, or their date of birth. This has proven to be the most difficult assigment I have ever given to students- as I have seen different classes of students struggle for seven years trying to explain who they are supposed to be. Answering the question "Who am I" have also become the most life changing question asked to the children.

You, too, can benefit by telling your self the truth about who you really are. When you look deep down within your self you will discover your motives and purpose in life. You will discover that the answer to this question when it is answered in light of your values and goals will be a key that will unlock your future. To give you an example, when I answered this question in college I found that my name had significance. My name means to rule or counsel men who are clay born.

Wow! that was a great revelation to me as I now understood why it was that I liked being in leadership roles. So I took this knowledge and began developing my talents in this area and the rest is history. I find that I have a tendency to always end up being the leader or the one who gives advice to others. This question, "who am I," when answered by you sincerely can be the tool that unlocks the door to your successful future. It sure has unlocked the door to the future of several children I have taught.

Did it always work? No it didn't, but to those it helped it is priceless. "Who am I"? I am one who cries out into the void of the continuum of space words comparable to those found in the King James bible in the book of Genesis the first chapter and I quote, "And God said,Let there be light: and there was light". (Genesis 1:3) I am advocating in this article that when you answer the question "Who am I?" You are responding to my cry into the void of the continuum of space to "Let there be understanding". When you have answered the question "Who am I?" Then you will have the understanding of who you are and therefore can more successfully navigate the sea of time, the sea of life and the sea of humanity. To you I say he who seeks knowledge must first understand and he who understands has wisdom. You'll have the wisdom of knowing who you are in relationship to the vast number of people who share this planet with you.

Learn more about this author, Ronald Claiborne.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Reflections: Who am I??
We want to hear your view. Write now!