My name is Philip Stiles and I am a sophomore at ODU. I'm a born-and-raised Virginian, hailing from south Virginia Beach. I am the oldest of three brothers, and the coolest as well (though don't tell them I said that)! What drives me towards education? Well big questions require big answers.

Throughout my schooling experience, I can't say that I've had many instructors who left me with lingering impressions. I often felt overlooked in the classroom setting. That is until I found one teacher who believed in me, my high school English teacher, who pushed me to be better, and is largely responsible for the man I am today. I discovered a love of writing and journalism, developed my teambuilding and leadership skills on a student led newspaper staff, and fell in love with the idea of leading others and helping them learn the lessons and skills they need to become the people they wish to be.

I believe we teach to prepare students for the world. This may be a broad definition, but to me it is the right one. After spending my learning experience struggling to connect the curriculum to my life in any meaningful way, I realize it was because I was not studying subjects that would prepare me for life beyond the brick-and-mortar walls of the classroom. This led me here, to the teacher I want to become, instead of instructing point by point, textbook by textbook, year after year. I will give my students the opportunity to direct their learning to what interests them and aiding them in constructing a database of knowledge they can take with them into whatever and wherever they wish to move after their schooling experience is complete. I have always been a fan of student-run classes, preferring to serve as a learning resource and mentor than as a lecturer. I hope to help my students become successful thinkers and leaders. If I had to choose a teaching philosophy that I think best exemplifies my teaching style, I would most relate to progressivism, slightly leaning towards essentialism. I want to foster communication between my students and allow them to develop a cooperative space to work with classmates to reach their goals.