Noyce Scholar Profile
Shannon Fasing
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Biology
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Biology
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
Virginia Commonwealth University
Current academic or teaching status:
Senior
School and school district:
N/A
Background:
I was raised in Bristow, VA. Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I was tutoring at school, coaching tennis and being a counselor at summer camps. My first two years of college were at Northern Virginia Community College where I was vice president in the Heart to Heart Charity Club. The past three years I have been completing my undergraduates degree in Richmond, VA, mentoring at Carver Elementary, and am currently the president for the National Science Teacher Association Virginia Commonwealth University Student Chapter.
Why do you want to teach:
Teaching has always been my dream. I want to inspire students to set goals for themselves, to push them past their comfort zone, and bring light to their capabilities. I plan to build relationships with every one of my students to help them succeed on an individual level. I love biology and cannot wait to create innovative ways for my students to understand and investigate the world around them.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
In high school I was a chemistry tutor. A student was taking chemistry for the second time and had given up. I worked closely with him after school everyday. When he got frustrated, I reminded him of what he was doing right and that we just need to go step by step. Throughout the year he progressively did better, going from failing grades to average. My favorite moment is him running up to me flaunting his final test grade, an A.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program means everything to me. It gives me the opportunity, tools, and education I need to accomplish my goal. Through this program, I am a part of a community that is focused on the success of students. I am grateful to be among those I can learn from and collaborate with.
