Learning even as a teacher

As I navigate my educational years, I’ve realized the trueness of the phrase “To teach is to learn twice over” (Joseph Joubert). I have had many incredible teachers and mentors who embody this mentality, inspiring me to do the same.

You truly cannot teach without gaining a new understanding of the topic. The act itself of talking aloud and putting into words your thoughts causes new neural connections to strengthen and new ideas to form. As Aristotle said, “Those who know do; those who understand teach.” Understanding allows you to teach, but by teaching, you understand more. Furthermore, teaching is always a two-way street with the “student” contributing their own opinions, understandings, and perspectives. After all, how true is knowledge if it does not incorporate other biased views or other pieces of the puzzle?

The best teachers I’ve had were the most humble ones. They were always open to correcting their wrong idea, learning new methods, or adding to their knowledge reservoir. My past writing teacher – now author who I recently reconnected with – observed that his roles as a professor and author makes him more vulnerable. As he is on the forefront of his field’s advancements, he has to come to terms with the fact that an old practice may not be the best anymore and tell his students so. This process of continually learning alongside his students is invigorating and refreshing. I also noticed this growth mindset in my research PI. She would frequently ask others to correct her if she had mixed up facts or if the latest research contradicted her. In an area changing as much as medical research, my PI personifies a true willingness to revise her old thinking and grow with the field.

Inspired by my amazing mentors, I have taken on the role of lecturer in my school’s Biology Olympiad club. Imparting my knowledge, watching it click in my audience’s brains, and learning new bits from them is such a gratifying experience. Basically, my goal is to learn while I teach.