Let out the inner Geek!
I have always thought of myself as a geek, a nerd, a dork, and my students routinely confirm this fact. So what? I am proud to identify as a history, psychology, sociology, economic, government, philosophy, and theatre geek! And as a directive to all teachers out there: Let out the inner geek! Education would be better and the culture and society would improve. Go on a journey of my self discovery of geekiness and see how it can improve education…
Step 1: recognizing your inner geek. I grew up as an only child with working parents. I spent much of my free time reading or watching things like nature documentaries. I was probably destined to become a geek in some respect. However, you need not have the same background as me to have an inner geek. What is the one thing you are passionate about? What makes you get all excited like a child, jumping up and down, doing a happy dance? For me it is history and really all of the social sciences. I love trivia and biographies of famous people and wars and social trends. I like playing Trivial Pursuit and Jeopardy. (I might add that I beat most people, but think I may have met my match for obscure facts with a rediscovered friend) I get excited about the prospect of a new series about the inner workings of the brain and am giddy with joy at new social documentaries highlighting recent political events. I know others who are passionate about art and love nothing more than to talk about different techniques and reminisce about their trip to an art museum or a particular workshop attended. Others love anything to do with cars and could “talk car” all day everyday. Find what you love… you are a geek. I just happen to love the social sciences. Embrace the interest and then move to the next step.
Step 2: showing off your inner geek Being a teacher, I can easily show off my inner geek everyday. I do it so much my students know to expect the unusual in my class. Don’t be afraid to act silly around others. Acting silly just shows others what you are passionate about. It gives them an idea of who you are and what you care about. I have been known to go to the extremes in my geekiness. I have become a French and Indian War reenactor. As a friend explains, we camp in funny clothes. I also have a flapper costume that I wear when I teach about he 1920s. My students have come to expect and love my crazy geeky ways. It’s all about showing off what’s in my heart.
Step 3: getting others to accept your inner geek If you approach your own geekiness without trepidation, people notice. I could talk about history all day, but if I did it in a monotone voice dressed conservative, no one would be able to see my geeky self. I choose to be over the top with it. Others will gradual;ly come to accept that inner geek and eventually even praise it. I have gotten many compliments about my enthusiasm for the subjects I teach. It definitely makes a parent feel more secure when the their student’s teacher shows excitement at their subject. I have even won over some of the staff that doesn’t share my enthusiasm. They smile when I do something crazy and secretly I think they would love to also be that geeky.
Step 4: encouraging others to let out their inner geek How to do this? Fortunately for me, I have a captive audience. Students have to deal with my inner geek. Even those students that enter my classroom hearing crazy stories and not knowing if they will like my class, go away at least not bored to death at my class. I try to keep it fine. Once you let yours out, it makes other people feel more secure in letting theirs out. I tell my students all the time, “I stand up in front of people and make a fool of myself all the time. It’s okay. If you don’t want to stand up, I will for you.” But you know what happens, I get kids standing up on their own. Many of my students have professed their love for geeky things, and it’s not turned into a school jjoke. Others laugh, but in a laughing with you not at you sense. We swim in the ocean of geeky things and enjoy ourselves. Ask questions, find out what others are interested in and then discuss it with them. Nothing makes a person feel more comfortable than showing interest. They are bound to open up sometime and maybe they will turn out to be a bigger geek than you are.
Step 5: hold hands, dance and sing because everyone is letting their inner geek out!
Self disclaimer and cautionary tales: Just because you love yourself and have gotten others to accept your inner geek, not everyone will join. I have many people that still give me weird looks or make disparaging comments to myself or my students about my behavior. Don’t let those get to you. Be strong and stay the course. For example, when I first wore my flapper costume, I had at least one parent tell me it was inappropriate for me to dress in costume like that. I guess they felt that I was disrespecting history or something. Phooey!! I was celebrating it. Thankfully my boss disagreed with the parent and loved my idea. I even made it into the yearbook that year! Immortalized on the page in all my geekiness.
The world would be a better place if everyone could find their inner geek. Make it your mission to find yours and spread the joy to others. I guarantee it will make your life much more interesting. Have fun and go with boldness!
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