An Inspiration for Learning: Prof. Jonathan Parker
Attributed to Confucius, the saying goes, “Give a man a fish, and you will feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you’ve fed him for a lifetime.” Hearing Professor Jonathan Parker speak heavily on the admiration he has for his dad, was to say the least, inspirational. Parker relies on his heart and knowledge to help his students succeed. His passion and specialty might be International Relations but his relations with his students as a mentor to all of us, is impeccable.
When asked what his most challenging moment was, he stated that it would be students who don’t give 100%. You see, Jonathan Parker cares so much about his student’s success that it hurts him to see the few that might not use their full ability to conquer their educational dreams. Parker is known for being stubborn in the way that he will never give up on his students and will continue to fight for them if they give 100% back as well. Parker always tries to see beyond the surface with his teachings as well. A personal experience I had with him in American Government would serve as a perfect example.
You see, I could never get into Government enough to really care for it to sink in. However, running into one of Parker’s classes served as a stepping stone that made me not only care, but it caused me to be able to retain the information to this day. This topic was about the 13th Amendment and the Civil War.
Prof. Parker showed the film Lincoln (2012). That film was cool in and of itself, but being a visual learner, it helped me understand the concept behind why the 13th amendment was so vitally important to be passed.
In a nutshell, if you want a great couple of classes, and a professor that will always go above and beyond to help you, Professor Parker is the perfect choice!
By Allison Salinas – Photo by Jonathan Parker