A Bit About Me

My name is Timothy and for as long as I can remember I have been a naturally curious person, always trying to learn more.   I was born and raised in Flint, Michigan and matriculated through the public school system.  During that time I explored and excelled as a musician, athlete, dancer, and lover of all things related to exploration. I gravitated towards things that were challenging, at least for me and maybe seen as nontraditional.  For example, despite my short stature I ran hurdles and pole vaulted in high school. I also played clarinet, and later taught myself to play all woodwinds and piano.

I studied biology and chemistry at Howard University and began to step into teaching roles during this time.  I taught swimming on the weekend, and worked at a daycare center downtown in the evenings. I also taught a summer science intensive for The Walter Reed Army Medical Institute while being introduced to bench research with a focus on breast and prostate cancers.  Looking back, I can see where layers of conditioning began to solidify my ideal image of life.  Naturally, I puzzled with the question of what I would do with my life and subscribed to the idea that whatever "it" was, it needed to be clearly defined, socially acceptable, financially fruitful, and all the other things that fit neatly into a box.  The paradox though, is that my heart had always wanted to experience it all and I simply did not fit into a static/fixed box.

Fast forward to grad school, where I pursued a PhD in Cancer Biology from The University of Chicago and I found myself even further conflicted. I actually enjoyed the opportunity to see the steep learning curve on the winding road ahead, but the reality is I hated my day to day life. I wasn't afraid of struggle. In fact, I sought it out but yet I would wake up in the morning to my alarm clock and meet this flood of negative emotions.  These emotions stayed with me day in, and day out until finally I left.  I had learned of an international exchange program and it seemed to bring together in a unique way everything I loved.

I traveled and toured with Up With People and had the time of my life. Honestly, I experienced so much during this time that to try and recap would be a disservice.  What I can say, is that I recall introspection being critical and I wrote in my journal on a bus in the middle of Germany, "while I may not remember each moment that happens I do pray that each moment will touch my heart in a way that will transform the way I live life."  And that it did!  On that note, if you are curious to know a bit about that journey it's still documented here to my delight and surprise. (Reminder to self: Print these entries and have them bound).  At the end of my semester of traveling I started life over. I remember posing the question to my castmates with teary eyes, "why have a life changing experience if we do not allow it to change our lives?"

That experience certainly changed mine.  It led me to realize that that which I always did, in some capacity, was teach.  I applied to various teaching fellows' programs and followed the lead of the program most responsive and aligned.  I landed in New York City and accepted the role of public school teacher in the South Bronx. Over the course of 13 years in the largest school district in the United States, I learned A LOT!  Amongst the most important lessons, is how to see life as the ultimate school and myself as a student of it.