Meet Noyce Scholar Sabrina Farshori
Earlier this year, NLU and IIT launched their Noyce Scholar Program, funded by a National Science Foundation Noyce Grant, to support STEM undergraduate majors at IIT who want to become teachers. We're thrilled to showcase our first Scholar, Sabrina Farshori, Physics and Astrophysics alumna from IIT. We sat down with Sabrina to learn more about her journey and her goals. Check out her responses below!
What and/or who inspired you to want to become a teacher?
I was a tutor through a great non-profit called Project: VISION in 2019. I remember a defining moment when I stepped into one of the classrooms in the school we were tutoring in and thinking to myself I would love to have my own classroom. Friends and family that I’ve helped over the years told me that I should be a teacher, but I never really thought much of it. However, in that moment, when I pictured myself as a teacher, the excitement took over and I finally decided that I wanted to pursue it.
What have been the most challenging and rewarding aspects of your NLU teacher preparation experience so far?
In all honesty, I feel I have faced very little challenges when completing my classes. I believe this is because I’ve had support every step of the way from faculty and staff, while also having the wonderful support of my husband. While I was going through a lot of difficulties in my personal life, I’m grateful I was still able to get through all my classes with satisfactory grades.
How do you think participating in the IIT-NLU Noyce Scholar Program will benefit you as a teacher candidate and later as a licensed teacher?
I anticipate this program will help make my dream come true of reaching out to as many students as possible in a meaningful, impactful way. The more I learn about the Noyce Scholarship, the more I get excited knowing that all the resources and support I’ll need are available to me, and I definitely plan on taking advantage of every opportunity I can to better myself as a teacher. I love that this program is focused on cultivating teachers that can change lives, therefore changing the world.
How do you hope to make an impact with your students?
Many of my teachers and professors showed me the world through an entirely new lens. This also deepened my appreciation for knowledge, so much so that I pursued Astrophysics in my undergrad, hoping to uncover more secrets of the universe. I hope that I can give my students this level of confidence and belief in themselves as well to pursue anything they feel is worthy. Equally important, however, is making sure that my students feel seen, heard, respected, and supported. Often times students have what it takes to succeed, but they just need a little support and encouragement to face their problems. The teachers that have changed my life are the ones who believed in me when I was at my lowest, and so it’s vital to me that I can pass it on to my students as well.
What words of advice do you have to current other IIT students who are considering teaching?
Trust your gut. If you feel that the degree you’re pursuing is not satisfying, and especially if you feel a calling towards teaching, then join the group of people who help change the world. It’s an extremely satisfying job because of how easily you can connect to the students while teaching something that you’re passionate about. To me, it’s the best of both worlds. Also, the demand for teaching is also at an all-time high, and your educational background from both IIT and NLU will make you a dream candidate. I remember one high school department head calling me a “unicorn” because of how unique and high-demand my resume was. Ultimately, if you just need that little push, reach out to your favorite teacher and ask your questions. That teacher will be glad to know he or she has impacted someone in a positive way!
