Noyce Scholar Profile
Kellie Takamori
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, grades 6-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Fifth year or post-baccalaureate Noyce scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
Pacific University
Current academic or teaching status:
MAT 5th year student
School and school district:
Neil Armstrong Middle School, Forest Grove High School
Background:
I was born and raised on Central Oahu, Hawaii. I went to Pearl City High School where I was heavily involved in my academics and extra-curricular activities. I later attended Pacific University and received a B.S. in Mathematics. While in my undergraduate years, I studied in Australia and attained the travel bug with a great itch to continue my explorations of other cultures. My experiences as a person from Hawaii and my travels abroad have shaped my open-mindedness when confronting new opportunities and challenges. I am currently in the MAT 5th year program at Pacific University.
Why do you want to teach:
I want to teach because I have an innate compassion for people; I love being an enabler, and simply, I want to be a part of the movement that makes significant and necessary changes in today’s world. Teaching is an opportunity to capitalize on my strengths as a logical thinker and utilize both my academic skills and sincere interest in people for a profession that serves and provides something meaningful.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
I’ve just begun student teaching, but most of my previous experience has been in my tutoring. My most memorable experience was tutoring my cousin in high school. He was failing math, among many other subjects, and asked for my help. He was only a Junior, but already seemed to be following a path that would lead him to losing his eligibility to graduate, judging by his low cumulative GPA. He comes from a family that does not support his academics and did not encourage him to dream anything other than working at a fast food restaurant after high school, so he didn’t really see the importance of school. I tutored him for merely one week and with his hard work, he scored a 100% on his next math test. I taught him how to study and how to approach math problems, but mostly I provided him with the opportunity to show him that he is capable of success on his own. He eventually worked hard and graduated with a 3.0 GPA. He is attending college and paying for it himself. That one tutoring opportunity provided him with much more than an A on his test.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The NOYCE program has provided me with the financial aid to further my education with a focus on applying my background in math to teaching. It has emphasized the importance of math and science in students, therefore, encouraging me to observe and conclude the necessity of these programs.
