OISE Graduation Stories: B.Ed grad Dong-Ling Chen goes the extra mile to help others
June 18, 2012
Dong-Ling Chen with SUPO director Eleanor Gower at OISE's Awards & Commendations Ceremony on May 31, 2012
Photo by: Jennifer O'Reilly
At the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), many teacher candidates go the extra mile, contributing their skills, knowledge and time to reach out to their peers, benefit the community and the rest of the university. As they graduate this week with the Bachelor of Education degree and the Diploma in Technological Education, the OISE community recognizes them for their outstanding efforts and contributions to teaching and learning.
One such graduate is Dong-Ling Chen, who has adopted Mahatma Gandhi’s advice to “be the change you wish to see in the world,” as the foundation on which she builds her actions and and how she sees role as a teacher candidate and President of the OISE Student Teachers' Union (STU). “I believe extra-curricular activities are an essential part of a meaningful education and that there is so much to be gained when students are actively involved. Over the years, I have tried to make as many partnerships between students, faculty and community members as possible, because together our efforts help make OISE and the University of Toronto into the great places they are today.”
Her commitment to inclusive and accessible education is reflected in several honours, including a University of Tornoto Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award, an OISE Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Life of the Faculty Award, and OISE's Alexander Pringle Seggie Award, for all-around highest academic achievement.
In nominating Dong-Ling for a Gordon Cressy Award, Jill Goudreau, OISE's Secondary Education Placement Coordinator, said, “In everything she does, Dong-Ling considers how she can improve the lives and learning of others. As President of the Student Teachers’ Union Dong-Ling goes over and above in offering support to OISE events whether she is involved in the organization or simply helping clean up right till the end. Dong-Ling is not only an outstanding leader of the entire student body; she is also part of the Transforming Urban Schools cohort where she is committed to learning about and working with historically marginalized communities in order to be a social justice educator, and she continues improving the lives of others.”
Dong-Ling's story is one among those of 1,165 OISE teacher candidates who will convocate on June 21, 2012.
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