Abstract

Using qualitative narrative inquiry and a self-study research design, I explore the influence of the arts in shaping my identity as an educator. I situate myself within the research and systematically examine connections between the arts and my educative beliefs and practices. In my narratives, I consider personal stories, histories, experiences, and emotions, from which meanings and insights emerge pertaining to my professional and scholarly practices. Surfacing from the data are themes of knowledge, power, silence, and voice. I relate these particular notions to learning, identity and knowledge construction, student-educator relationship, the relationship between self versus others, and the value of owning one’s voice within the academic arena (both educator and student). This study contributes to the fields of qualitative research and teacher education and development, as it emphasizes the positive and transformative virtues of self-study analysis through narrative inquiry to improve professional and scholarly practices. It also demonstrates the artful approach of narrative research, as this method presents opportunities to express experiences, search for meanings within past ventures, while also shaping and providing insights toward the present and future.