Four main components of my life are the dearest to me: friends, family, career, and myself. It is tempting to think of them in order of importance. They are not; they are deeply entangled.
As a professor, particularly in the School of Liberal Studies at SFSU, I enjoy tremendous academic freedom. It is, therefore, my responsibility to work on issues that are not only fun but also relevant. I will strive to choose research and teaching topics I enjoy knowing about and working on. I will keep on working to achieve a deeper understanding and never believe that whatever knowledge I have is sufficient. I believe that relevance comes from depth. I also believe I owe my students much more than just depth of knowledge. As an educator, I will connect my intellectual interests to those in my classes by making my teaching subjects more attractive, listening to my students, and incorporating their needs. As a science educator, I know how science and math are sources of inequality. I will work to reduce those inequalities, fostering classroom environments where all my students can learn.
Friends are here to share our best moments and support us on our hardest ones. My friends will always be able to rely on me. I will always listen to what they say to try to solve their problems and give suggestions and understand how they feel and what they need. I will empathize with my friends and use this empathy to work with them to solve any problems. But I will also use this empathy to look for common interests and to deepen our relationships.
I cannot overstate the importance of my family in my life. My direct family – wife and children–and in-laws and relatives are responsible for who I am today. I will always have time for my family and make a point of interacting with them often. I will tell them how important they are to me and how much I love them. I will accept our differences and see them as part of our diversity, always helping us see different points of view.
You cannot pay attention to others if you do not pay attention to yourself. I will always work toward becoming more mindful of my needs, thoughts, desires, and aspirations. I will constantly take time to be with myself and nobody else. This will allow me to be fully with others when needed. I will care not only for my mind but also for my body. I will care for my body by eating thoughtfully, exercising, and doing yoga. I will take care of my mind by meditating, doing yoga, and being aware of who I am and what I need. I will always find time to take care of myself. I will also make a point of not working more hours than I should, constantly seeking to balance my work with my life.
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