Hi, I’m Kara, one of the 2010/2011 TMS teaching fellows. This is my first post to tell you a bit about myself since I’ll begin teaching classes in Hyderabad in just a few weeks.

I have a B.A. in cultural anthropology from American University, as well as a range of experiences as a journalist and youth educator. The thread that links these interests and skills is best described by quoting writer Arlene Goldbard:

Every person has a reservoir of stories—ancestor stories, origin stories, stories from childhood—that, whether any particular individual knows it or not, shape the defining narrative of his or her life.

I love learning about people’s lives, whether I’m doing it by studying cultural phenomena, interviewing folks, engaging children in creative expression, or just talking to friends. Despite being a writer and photographer, I don’t just want to share others’ stories–I want others to be able to share their own stories. Teaching digital storytelling for 6 months in India is a great opportunity to strengthen my skills at facilitating that process.

The video below shares some more details of my life’s journey so far.

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/13801183]