Someone called me Arrogant today . . .

Arrogant? Me? I don't get it so I looked it up online and came up with the following definition thanks to: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/arrogant.

Arrogant: adjective
1. Having or displaying a sense of overbearing self-worth or self-importance.
2. Marked by or arising from a feeling or assumption of one's superiority toward others: an arrogant contempt for the weak.

 Am I/Was I arrogant when I:

• finally listened to others and started night school to further my education and earn a degree?  No, I would call that : Industrious.
• applied to study abroad for a semester when I was 39?  No, I would call that:  Curious and Risk-taking.
• decided that in order to live and work in Portugal that I needed  to earn a graduate degree in Education (which wouldn't have been my first choice if I were living in the States but my best option for living abroad and was financed thru loans and financial aid that I am still paying by the way - lol) and get my teaching certificate?  No, I would call that:  Realistic and Committed.
• offer someone my time, ideas, effort, support? No, I would call that: Available, Thoughtful, Generous, Interested.
• developed an interest in Educational Technologies as a way to develop my skill set and improve my chances for opportunities here in Portugal?  No, I would call that: Practical and Mature.
• continued to upgrade my skills by taking a Publisher course and was consequently offered a small gig editing a local newsletter for 2 years?  No, I would call that: Persistent and Tenacious.
• approached the international schools in my area with an idea for an afterschool activity for grammar school kids that would combine learning English with learning basic computer skills (This by the way led to a full time teaching position at one of the schools)?  No, I would call that: Imaginative and Resourceful.
• argue my point based on evidence and research and not "just makin' it all up as I go along"?  No, I would call that: Prepared.
• reveal a lot of my life with this "tell-some" blog for all of cyberspace to critically read and comment on?  No, I would call that:  Brave.

One of the things that I have learned (really learned) in my life is that I need to support what I am saying.  This is true in the scholastic world, the business world and in our personal lives. I try to pass this message on to my students.  You can say whatever you want or hold any opinion that you have but you MUST to be able to support your message/opinion/thesis based on research and evidence with  facts, examples, statistics, and/or quotes.

So, based on the above definition and supporting information, I conclude that I am NOT arrogant.  Now, if someone called me opinionated or suggests that I am stubborn  - Well, that's another post entirely . . .