JIU 2010 Alumni Speaker, David White
Changing Expectations - Expanding Horizons
Growing up in Florida, David White had two passions; art and education. Upon getting his undergraduate degree in Studio Design at Florida State University, David set out to share his love of painting with students.
White spent nine years teaching in Florida, never really finding a way to combine his two passions in life, teaching by day and painting by night. When he saw an opportunity to combine the two he took it, heading to Jakarta, Indonesia where he became a Visual Arts instructor at the Jakarta International School.
Despite having a respected position at the school, White still found it difficult to bring his two passions together in the way that he had hoped. He decided that additional education might be just the thing he needed in order to truly achieve his long-held vision; bringing his artistic touch to the school’s programs in a truly revolutionary way.
White enrolled at Jones International University (JIU) with the hopes of getting a Masters of Education degree in Secondary Curriculum. At first, he found the process challenging, due to his schedule that posed a 12 hour time difference, thanks to the Indonesian time zone. He also found that going back to school and doing homework, after being out of practice for so many years was at times frustrating. His time out of school lent itself to a lack of discipline, thus making the education process an unwelcome part of his life.
Instead of giving up, he fought harder. He would order text books months in advance to compensate for shipping time. He worked closely with JIU student advisors, bearing down on his studies. Initially, getting an A was all that mattered, but the deeper he dove in to his curriculum the more he started to see opportunities for application in his life.
While still in the midst of getting his MEd, White began applying what he was learning to the curriculum at Jakarta International School. With the help of a colleague at the school, White put his vision in to action, designing and building a new Visual Arts program, class by class.
What was once an after-thought program, without the potential of further education, became a popular outlet for students. Over three years, the Visual Arts program grew, nearly doubling in size, from just over 100 students in the program to close 250 students, nearly a third of the entire high school.
Almost as an added bonus, White has watched with amazement as more and more of his students are finding success after high school, many of them going on to pursue Visual Arts degrees at colleges and universities. In fact, in 2009, seven of his students were accepted to the prestigious Savannah College of Art and Design, with scholarship money coming in at around $450,000.
“Artist and teacher used to be two separate hats that I wore,” he says. “Now, the two roles are much more integrated for me.”
David White continues to pursue his passions of art and education. He has found that his degree from JIU was a vital cog in bringing the two together. The education he received helped not only change his thinking, but has contributed to a dramatic change in the world around him.
Click here to see a photo gallery chronicling the last two years of White's adventures abroad.
Take a look at the photo gallery chronicling the last two years of White's artwork.