I have been teaching IT courses since 2002; I started as a TA for relational databases and Delphi. Right now I teach part time courses in web development/design, and database development and administration. Wow, it’s already been a while and yet I can still remember my first teaching gig as if it were just yesterday.

Some people ask me why I teach. This is why:

I take pains when developing and delivering my courses. I treat teaching very seriously. When students take my class, I want them to really learn something from it. I want them to get their money’s worth (or more!). I want them to walk away with a new skill, or new knowledge, or new discovery, after each class. When they ask me questions I don’t know the answer to, I try to look for the answer – sometimes even spend sleepless nights trying out a few test cases – and present the answer in the next class.

Why?
Because I love doing this.

And because I want to make a difference. However small or trivial it may be.

My teaching style does not work for all of my students. I do not have all the answers to student questions, and no – not all the demos are flawless in front of the students.

But if I can help someone understand a concept, or look for a solution, or just be someone to bounce ideas with, then it’s all worth it. Or just encourage them to keep on going and not get discouraged …

And sometimes, some students take the time to let me know they appreciate this. And I can’t tell them how much gestures like this mean to instructors like me.