Teaching to Touch Lives

Fertilizing students' minds in order to grow them up and send them out

When you walk into classrooms in college you are often greeted by a hosts of professors who often shape the way you will think for the rest of your life. Often times students are the one's learning from teachers,  but in some educational environments learning is a two-way street. Ms. Robin G. Daniel, a teacher of 20 years and a GPC faculty member of two is never ashamed to ask her students questions in an effort to learn new things and encourage them to do the same. Daniel Ssays one thing to remember about being an educator is, "Your job is to fertilize students' mind and not plant your thoughts in their heads." She also uses this method for herself by keeping an open mind while teaching. If you stepped into her classroom you would be greeted by an atmosphere of peer-to-peer engagement and curiosity that wonders freely.

Ms. Daniel ecourages her students to ask questions in order to make themselves more well-rounded about what is going on in the world and within themselves. The discussions in her classroom welcome students to ask questions free of conviction or embarrassment. She is a very open-minded teacher whose acceptance of students holds no boundaries. Her classroom dynamic often consist of students coming together for one common interest, literature. "I enjoy coming to her class everyday because she is an understanding teacher," says Rafael Williams a student in her World Literature class. Not only does she lend a helping hand inside the classroom, but mentors students outside of class as well.

Her interest in diversity has definitely found its niche here at the Georgia Perimeter Clarkston Campus due to its ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity. The diverse atmosphere of the campus invites Ms. Daniel to form intellectual relationships with students of all backgrounds. James Burrow, a former Florida State colleague of Ms. Daniel agrees "working with a diverse group of students does allow teachers to do some learning as well, and Robin has always enjoyed that about teaching." Ms. Daniel enjoys hearing about the travels and customs of international students and encourages students who do not travel or have yet to travel to become mental travelers by being well-read and never rejecting an opportunity to learn more by reading.

Daniel says while growing up, "I always enjoyed reading and would read anything I could get my hands on as a child." She also atrributes her understanding and compassion toward her students to growing up with a mother who was not able to attend college due to her attendance to motherly duties. "I understand the struggles college students have to go through, so I try to make my classroom a safe haven, a place where everyone is accepted." With this attitude and an extensive knowledge of literature and English it clear to see why this is the teacher students go flocking to every semester.

Ms. Daniel enjoys teaching and even more enjoys giving students the opportunity to showcase their intellect and diversity. Her goal is fertilize students’ mind with knowledge in order to grow them up, and send them out into the real-world.