My name is Mark Tessmann. I am a man of simple taste, due in large part to my practical nature. It's a good way to live, because I get a surreal amount of happiness from things like flip-flops, sunny days, cereal, and horror movies. Regardless, the ecstasy experienced by any of those things can be short lived. I would argue that a consistent happiness in this life requires two things: worthwhile relationships and a driving force that gets you out of bed before your alarm, a sense of purpose. In my humble opinion, the purpose of life is to find a purpose, to engage in something that lights a fire within yourself. Albeit one of many, teaching is a raging fire for me. The front of a class has held sway for me since the first time I stood there, and since then, I have come to believe that my purpose is to educate, in every sense of the word. Considering my belief that worthwhile relationships are one half of what makes up a consistent happiness, it shouldn't be hard to see how I've felt drawn to the profession on multiple levels for quite some time.
In Professional Semester I, we were asked for the three characteristics we want to be remembered by. It wasn't meant to be more than a forty-five second activity, but I have put much thought into it since then. I believe that if the people who know/knew me (in any capacity- family, close friends, acquaintances, students, etc.) were to describe me as any of the following three words, I will have done something correctly. Encouraging. Capable. Passionate. 'Encouraging' because I realized a while back that it is one of my most affluent gifts as a human being, and I put time and effort into trying to make sure people know they're valuable. 'Capable' because I hate being told I won't be able to do something, and you'd better believe I'll take it as a challenge. It goes beyond that though. I strive to do my best in whatever area I'm working, and to put in the time required to reflect on what the best course of action is. I want to be a man who knows what to do. 'Passionate' because I want to approach the things I deem worthy of investing time into with the same vigour that a lion approaches its dinner with. I also believe that time is the most valuable thing you can give to somebody. I'm rarely in a rush, because I think that life presents us with our greatest memories when we're in a position to receive them gracefully. And OH, two final points: One, Saturday Night by The Bay City Rollers is the best song in the entire history of music. And two, I'm going to teach math. I guess I like that. Or whatever.
In Professional Semester I, we were asked for the three characteristics we want to be remembered by. It wasn't meant to be more than a forty-five second activity, but I have put much thought into it since then. I believe that if the people who know/knew me (in any capacity- family, close friends, acquaintances, students, etc.) were to describe me as any of the following three words, I will have done something correctly. Encouraging. Capable. Passionate. 'Encouraging' because I realized a while back that it is one of my most affluent gifts as a human being, and I put time and effort into trying to make sure people know they're valuable. 'Capable' because I hate being told I won't be able to do something, and you'd better believe I'll take it as a challenge. It goes beyond that though. I strive to do my best in whatever area I'm working, and to put in the time required to reflect on what the best course of action is. I want to be a man who knows what to do. 'Passionate' because I want to approach the things I deem worthy of investing time into with the same vigour that a lion approaches its dinner with. I also believe that time is the most valuable thing you can give to somebody. I'm rarely in a rush, because I think that life presents us with our greatest memories when we're in a position to receive them gracefully. And OH, two final points: One, Saturday Night by The Bay City Rollers is the best song in the entire history of music. And two, I'm going to teach math. I guess I like that. Or whatever.