<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2mm74t_1Gq0zrKT00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2mm74t_1Gq0zrKT00" width="512" height="512" ><figcaption>Courtesy of Guilford College</figcaption></figure>Teaching Taekwondo was never just a hobby for young David Hildreth–it became a stepping stone for his career. Hildreth, Chair of Guilford College’s Education Studies Department, who also teaches Biology, shared his inspiration for becoming an instructor. “He had high expectations of his students and demanded accountability, but was patient, passionate and helpful as he pushed students to grow and find success,” he said. Now, Hildreth spreads these values and his admiration for interpersonal connections between student and teacher–a quality deeply rooted in Guilford College’s core values. “Once you’re an advisee, you’re a colleague,” said Hildreth. “You’re kind of an advisee-colleague for life.” He emphasized the importance of community and togetherness at Guilford, qualities much harder to find at larger institutions. For Hildreth, those connections have become an important part of his role within the Guilford community.“I hope when I retire from Guilford, people will remember me as someone who was a student-first type of professor,” said Hildreth.Hildreth’s own path to higher education was far from straightforward.Hildreth once had a choice between pursuing education and optometry, and shared that he “flipped a coin between optometry school and going to get a PhD,” and the PhD won. “I wanted to help people love science as much as I do,” he said.Today, he enjoys working in the College’s Education Department with professors who appreciate science as much as he does. Outside of Guilford, Hildreth is an avid enthusiast of the fantasy worlds of Star Wars and Harry Potter. His office walls are decorated with action figures and posters of characters like Darth Vader and R2-D2. For any Harry Potter fans: he is a Gryffindor! Back in the real world, Hildreth has been involved in sports since he was young. From playing basketball his whole life to coaching across the country to now playing pickleball for fun, David shows a great love for sports. “I took Taekwondo my whole life,” he said. The lessons he learned from Taekwondo and basketball have shaped who he is as an educator today. With years of experience as both a student and professor, Hildreth hopes to leave Guilford students with a few words of advice. “Just challenge yourself, meet people, put yourself in somewhat uncomfortable situations, with support, you know, and enjoy the college experience,” he says.</div></body>

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Teaching Taekwondo was never just a hobby for young David Hildreth–it became a stepping stone for his career. Hildreth, Chair of Guilford College’s Education Studies Department, who also teaches Biology, shared his inspiration for becoming an instructor. “He had high expectations of his students and demanded accountability, but...

Getting to know David Hildreth

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Teaching Taekwondo was never just a hobby for young David Hildreth–it became a stepping stone for his career. Hildreth, Chair of Guilford College’s Educati

Getting to know David Hildreth

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