We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brian Favorite a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Brian, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?

Teachers are one of the most important influences students can have in their lives. Preparing students to think about what they will do after high school starts as early as ninth grade, in my virtual public school. Breaking it down to three choices: Career, more schooling (college, trade tech, university) or military are the main options. Having students (and parents) thinking about what comes after high school this early allows them to prepare accordingly. As for for being the best teacher that I can be: I have my three ‘Cs”: Be creative in your teaching approach, be consistent with students and connect to ALL your students.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Currently I am a Career and Technical Education high school teacher in Southern California at an all-virtual K-12 public charter school. I teach Digital Arts, 3D Modeling, Career Exploration in the Arts, Animation I, Web Design. Students meet with me for classes online and submit assignments on the school platform.

After working in television production for about 15 years, I decided I wanted to “give back” through teaching others what I know. I teach students how to “give voice” to their experience and to what they want to say to the world.

I continue to also work as a short documentary filmmaker. I have about 8 short films that have had various successes. Currently I am working on my first music video collaborating with a trans man who is sharing his life experience at various points being a grandfather, grandmother, uncle, aunt, mother, father, brother and sister.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

As a past Peace Corps volunteer in the Kingdom of Tonga from 2004 to 2006, I was the lone “middle-aged” guy in my group of 18 volunteers as well as the only “out” gay male volunteer. Before I was to be stationed in Vanuatu a last minute change occurred and I was instead sent to a conservative, Christian country with a monarchy that had very strong views on gay people. I was immediately told upon arrival to Tonga that it would be best for me return to the US and to wait for another country position to open, more friendly to gay volunteers. I considered and then asked if I could “go back in the closet” for the first six months to a year while in the country to let my villagers I was to serve get to know me first. Then possibly allow me to slowly come out to people I knew that would be open to allowing me to be who I am. The Peace Corps Tongan staff agreed (with much persuasion.)
Eventually I was fully accepted, but it wasn’t easy. I felt awkward at times in my small village and always knew that those in my village were highly interested in all my activities (but that is true for most Peace Corps volunteers.) And as an elementary school teacher, I further was worried that some Tongans didn’t think I would be safe around their children. This didn’t seem to manifest that I know of. I eventually also befriended a community of transgender women who have been in the Tongan cultures for centuries. They taught me how to be “gay” or “different” in their country and from that experience, I made a short documentary about that experience and of that wonderful community who were and are still my friends. I served my full 27 months of service, while many in my volunteer group did not and I am so proud and grateful for those months because of the mutual experience I left my villagers and what they left me in return.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative for me is having the opportunity to meet other artists/creatives who see the world in various and different ways, who are willing to take chances in so many aspects of their lives, including questioning or just living in a way that upends the straight, white patriarchal ways society has operated and operates for far too long. This behavior reflects in their work as intentional or as the artist’s “way of being”. To be around people who creative as a part of their being is invigorating, life-affirming, revolutionary and a joy to witness or better yet, be included as part of their or my creative process.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bjfavorite/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfavorite/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@brianfavorite4465
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1397817/

Image Credits

Brian Favorite