Makeeling Botanical Garden, University of the Philippines at Los Banos, August 2012
Makeeling Botanical Garden
University of the Philippines Los Banos August 2012 |
Corona Del Mar State Beach
California December 2011 |
Lake Powell
Utah June 2012 |
Hidden Canyon Trail
Zion National Park, Utah February 2013 |
I enjoy scuba diving, hiking, long boarding, cooking, and traveling. I also enjoy photography--especially nature photography and family portraits. All of the background photos on this website are from my personal portfolio.
From an early age, my parents instilled in me a love and sense of wonder for nature. I have fond memories of exploring and examining every nook and cranny of the rocky tide pools of the California coast, in search of interesting and exciting creatures. We spent many summers camping, hiking, gardening, and participating in many other outdoor activities. I like to think of these experiences as my primary exposure to the exciting field of biology.
As I've had the opportunity to study biology in a university setting, I've grown a much deeper appreciation for the complexity of the living world. I feel that this appreciation is a major factor that has pushed me towards becoming a teacher. Biology is something that I get excited about and that, much to the annoyance of my former roommates, I love to teach and talk about.
My time at BYU truly shaped the path of my life. I originally enrolled there as a pre-med student. However, after half of a semester in the program, I began to realize that it was not the field for me. One day, I was tutoring one of my friends in statistics. After what seemed like hours of teaching, learning, working, repeating, and memorizing, the concept finally clicked in her head. One glance at the look on her face, and I knew that I wanted to be a teacher. I loved (and still do) the opportunity I had to share in her joy and triumph.
When I teach, I like to make sure I always connections with the real world. In high school, I had a biology teacher who always said, “MAKE IT REAL.” This motto has stuck with me and I find myself using it whenever I am trying to teach (or even learn) a difficult concept. I know that as I begin to teach my own students, it will be an important idea for me to keep in mind.
From an early age, my parents instilled in me a love and sense of wonder for nature. I have fond memories of exploring and examining every nook and cranny of the rocky tide pools of the California coast, in search of interesting and exciting creatures. We spent many summers camping, hiking, gardening, and participating in many other outdoor activities. I like to think of these experiences as my primary exposure to the exciting field of biology.
As I've had the opportunity to study biology in a university setting, I've grown a much deeper appreciation for the complexity of the living world. I feel that this appreciation is a major factor that has pushed me towards becoming a teacher. Biology is something that I get excited about and that, much to the annoyance of my former roommates, I love to teach and talk about.
My time at BYU truly shaped the path of my life. I originally enrolled there as a pre-med student. However, after half of a semester in the program, I began to realize that it was not the field for me. One day, I was tutoring one of my friends in statistics. After what seemed like hours of teaching, learning, working, repeating, and memorizing, the concept finally clicked in her head. One glance at the look on her face, and I knew that I wanted to be a teacher. I loved (and still do) the opportunity I had to share in her joy and triumph.
When I teach, I like to make sure I always connections with the real world. In high school, I had a biology teacher who always said, “MAKE IT REAL.” This motto has stuck with me and I find myself using it whenever I am trying to teach (or even learn) a difficult concept. I know that as I begin to teach my own students, it will be an important idea for me to keep in mind.