Who am I?

My name is Richelle Ho and I am currently attending the University of Calgary, working towards a BFA in Drama. I decided to take on this journey after finishing my 5 Year Concurrent Education and English degree, in hopes of being able to learn alongside students. This helps me to understand what they are going through as learners while increasing my skills as an educator. I have a great passion for working with students anywhere from K-12 and hope to support them during their academic journey and beyond. My passion for teaching stems from my experience as a student under the Alberta curriculum. I was fortunate enough to have many great teachers who cared for my well-being both inside and outside of the classroom. I hope to carry this on to future students.

Throughout high school, I found a love for critical thinking. This led me to applying into English as my teachable subject. I hope to encourage students to think critically about what is given to them, whether it be a novel, instructions, or their place in the world. I believe that fostering critical thinking within students is fundamental to building understanding of themselves and the world around them. This then prevents low self-esteem, which I believe is the root issue of many problems that even adults face.

I have been fortunate enough to have worked with students both within and outside of Calgary and oftentimes find that I learn more from them than they do from me. Therefore, I consider myself a lifelong learner. Furthermore, I am a huge believer in stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things. This not only helps you to expand your perspective but also helps you to learn new things and new ways of learning. This does not only apply to learners but teachers as well. It is exceedingly important to create a school culture where stepping out of one’s comfort zone is the focus, not failure.

I am also passionate about art and music. After growing up taking art classes, I was fortunate enough to obtain a minor in Visual Studies. As well, I am training in guitar and voice. I would love to use these means to supplement learning. Whether I am working in an elementary school or a high school, I believe that use of the arts can encourage remembering of concepts, self-expression, and learning.