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Lucas Gruber
EDU 202 3001
30 March 2019
Philosophical Portrait
I originally wanted to be a civil engineer when I finished high school. It was a career that
would undoubtedly bring success if I worked for it, but most of all, it was a career that my family
would be proud of. I prepared to go the University of Nevada, Reno and steeled my nerves for a
hard fought journey but when it came time to take the leap, I abjured. Following this decision my
life went into a downward depressive spiral in which I lost all confidence and concept of my life
goals. When I finally pieced together the conviction to attend the College of Southern Nevada
the first class I took was a philosophy course. My chemistry teacher from high school had
recommended it to me because he felt it was something that I would enjoy. During this course I
started to develop and identify some core beliefs that I now strive to uphold. Paramount among
them was the process of learning and the fundamental role it had in every aspect of my life. I
have always loved learning new information. For me it is an exciting rush to dissect a new
concept and compare it with my developing understanding of the world. This excitement and
love for learning is what I wish to inspire in others because it has helped me find a purpose I
believe in.
However there this a more practical reason for why I have chosen to become an educator.
Simply put I have consistently had teachers in every stage of my life pushing me to the best of
my abilities. Now this has not always worked for the best as is evident by my engineering
failure, but it somehow led to a resolve I never expected to have for education. I now have a
dream that I return to my tribe and foster a young generation of Native Americans ready to forge
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their places in the world. This might sound unusual at first since I have yet to mention that I
carry the blood of the Mojave and Navajo tribes in my veins. As a child I grew up on the Fort
Mojave Indian Reservation. Often enough this conjures up years of oppression and squalor for
many people. But when asked where I see myself in five years, I say “On the reservation.” I see
myself helping those students with their work and hearing them vent their worries. I see myself
howling with them in laughter and heaving with them in sorrow. I simply wish to give them a
teacher that engages them and engenders their abilities so that they can recognize their potential
for greatness.
Of course this is all hypothetical talk unless I expand upon how I plan to achieve this.
First it must be noted that I am a deeply introspective person. I only decided to become a teacher
after I had considered my values and the meaning this career would grant my life. Understanding
the thoughts going through my head and the reasons behind them is an important skill to me.
This is why I fundamentally agree with the educational philosophy of existentialism. I think the
best way to prepare a student for the rigors of life is to develop their abilities to search for and
define what they believe in. An ability to critically think about their actions can help them better
decide how to live their lives and how to achieve their goals. However, I still believe there
should be a structure to this process and that certain aspects of essentialism can best accomplish
this. There is a host of essential skills needed to function within society but I think there is a
basic knowledge in a variety of subjects required in order to reach the enlightenment described
above. I would also hope to implement a diverse and dedicated teaching style that can
accommodate each student. My personal experiences with learning have made it evident that
each person has different needs. I am a heavy visual and auditory learner which has allowed me
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to supplement my studies. It is my hope that I can do the same for students of all types of
learning.
I was quite fortunate in always having a teacher that pushed me every step of the way in
school. When I was still in elementary school I can remember the wild ambitions I had of
becoming this great figure that would be renowned for furthering the prosperity of humankind. I
wanted to be the first Native American president, a world renowned scientist, or even an
innovative civil engineer. Unfortunately I gave up far too early on those ideals and accepted that
I would only ever live a life of mediocrity. My attitude has changed though; with each passing
college course I regain my vigor for imparting some positivity on the world. I now hope to return
to my home that rests beside the Colorado River and find solidarity with the family that I have
yearned for. There I can impart the joy and elation I have experienced from the process of
learning and maybe set a student or two up for greatness.
