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by Michael Harnett When Michael Dulay first came
to Glendale College years ago as a student, he had no inkling that
he’d end up where he is now, as a recently hired full-time instructor
of psychology in the Social Science Division. He began as a
“distracted” freshman who thought he could learn on his own; “I
hated being forced,” he says. But, as anyone who meets him will likely
attest, Mike eagerly seeks and accepts good advice, just as he
constantly strives to do good work. Mike
credits several past and current GCC mentors and colleagues, among
others, for much of the success of his career thus far. But the story of
his progress is a testament to his will to learn and his knack for
gaining others’ confidence. First, while a student, Mike learned from
Linda Larsen and others at the Child Development Center here that he
must “jump through hoops” as a member of an organization. Later, on
his first day at Cal State LA, he met his mentor and was intrigued by
the psychological study of inter-group relations. As a sophomore, he
joined a research team composed mostly of graduate students. Through
these early research experiences, Mike began his pursuit of his
“passion”—an understanding of the “how and “Diving
in the deep end,” as he describes the onset of his teaching career,
Mike quickly came to appreciate “brutal, honest feedback” for his
efforts, and allowed himself to hone his craft as a result. His first
attempt at teaching his own class, introductory psychology, featured a
presentation of a “postmodern view of science” that was less than
effective, but he “gained much from immersion” with other faculty
and In all of
his efforts, Mike tirelessly labors to make himself an inspiring model
for his beloved students. He sets goals, both for himself and them,
hoping to connect with them in meaningful ways so that they might
realize, “Anything is possible,” he says. He points out
that his own constant preparation of effective lessons and coursework is the best way to
reach and inspire students. He is willing to assign—and grade—many
papers and put in more than 60 hours a week to pursue these goals. One of
Mike’s top priorities is balance.
To achieve it, he involves himself in widely varied, even divergent,
experiences. He has rapped at a Kreider Hall lecture and frequently
plays carefully selected showtunes on his office CD player. So as not to
waste time, he reads during his treadmill workouts and lifts weights as
a time-efficient hobby. “24-Hour Fitness is a blessing!” he laughs.
The decorations in his pleasantly appointed office in SR 353 include a
basketball, a reminder of the ongoing epic contests between social
science and math faculty that are becoming part of college lore. But the
greatest passion of his life, which he balances with his work at GCC, is
his young family: Vivian, his wife of two years, whom he met ten years
ago, and his eight-month-old daughter, Elise. Being a parent reminds
Mike more than anything that balance and planning in all he does are
essential and fundamental. Watching the gleam in Mike’s eyes as he
describes his family speaks volumes for his immense pride and sense of
responsibility. Much of
this same kind of pride is evident when Mike speaks of his “family”
in his own division and in Beyond
Mike’s dedication, beneath his accomplishments thus far, lies the soul
of a young man who is deeply grateful for all of his blessings. “The
kid made it!” he beams. It is a proud yet humble summation of his
serendipitous path to his teaching vocation here, and indeed we can see
him as just the kind of hero we love to root for. & |
