Philosophy > Teaching
When I was an undergraduate student in art school, the woodshop
supervisor told me that 99% of hitting the nail on the head is confidence.
With his help, I built a wooden pedestal for a sculpture, taking it from
concept to finishing nails. And I built my confidence for handling
construction projects. In art school as in life, it is essential to
create and sustain a high level of confidence.
As a teacher, I have become more aware of the role that confidence plays
in bridging the gap between talent and actual achievement. I believe that
talent is a significant factor in the probability of success. However,
I teach that talent is only one factor among many that account for learning
and achievement. Confidence is a salient factor in the progress of design
students because there are no formulas. There is never one singular solution.
For each task, every student creates a unique solution. Problem-solving
requires dedication of cognitive resources, focused energy and time. The
top three items on the list of supplies required for my classes are persistence,
patience and confidence.
