Sam Abidoye

1. Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from and what were you doing before arriving at THINK Global School?

Naturally, my passions lie in the arts, in every form, I enjoy self-expression and creating. I have had the privilege of teaching music and performing arts in the UK. As a child of Nigerian immigrants, I have always been fascinated by the diversity and various cultures of the world. My friends would say that I’ve been traveling as long as they’ve known me. My parents, they are serial travelers, and I seem to have inherited it.

2. What aspects of THINK Global School’s educational model do you find most appealing?

This school embodies the “experience is the best teacher” philosophy. My mother used to say it, now I’m living it. At TGS, students are in charge of their own learning, they are engrossing themselves in a new culture every term, with the aim of learning from it. If you get a chance, ask TGS students about their personal projects. You are sure to be blown away. I would love to see what happens to these ideas once they graduate from TGS.

3. Describe your teaching style or philosophy. Do you have any unique teaching methods you use to keep students engaged?

I like to treat students as individuals and look at things from their point of view. It’s not a hierarchy system but a joint learning experience. It’s important to be true to yourself. Sometimes you are teaching without being aware.

4. What is your most memorable travel experience thus far?

A few years ago, myself and a friend decided to explore Brazil. I had heard rumors of there being remnants of ancient African culture in pockets of South and Central America, and I wanted to explore and connect. We bought a round trip ticket with no plans—we took every day as it came. We stayed in a town until we were inspired to move on. We met great people, both young and old, followed recommendations of locals and everything else was on the fly. By the end of our journey, we had traveled from the south of Brazil’s coastline to the north. I fell in love with Brazil…

5. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Ethiopia… I would love to explore the non-commercial side of it. Africa is a beautiful continent and doesn’t always get the credit it deserves. Most people think Africa is sand and flies. I think Ethiopia is a hidden gem with some great history. I’ve been fascinated with the country since I was 14. I have friends who are from there. They are very passionate about the country. It is said passion is infectious… I’m still infected. It’s an itch I aim to scratch on this journey.

6. What is your favorite book, and why?

The autobiography of Malcolm X. In high school, I was intrigued by his character, so I decided to read about him. It was one of the first books I read, a page-turner. I was captivated by his message of anger and love, and inspired by how he was able to go against the norm, to fight for the rights of Black people.