French food and culture was a large part of my high school and college experience, and I was excited to share with the students in this small way. What I did not anticipate, however, was how engaged they would be. They took initiative in the cooking process in a way that I had not experienced with them before. Additionally, when I flipped a few crepes in the pan, they were impressed. And impressing a middle schooler is no small feat.
Beyond the lessons of adaptability, responsibility, and leadership that I am continuing to learn during my time here, I am also learning about the necessity (and joy) of spontaneity and surprises. Just as my students surprise and surpass my expectations, I can surprise them. Education is not and should not be a one way street. So in the next few months I’m looking forward to being surprised even more.
Rod Nash, director of Outreach at Trinity, sat in with Laura’s Enrichment Class early in her time here.
Earlier this fall, during just the second week of programming at the Bobcat Learning Center, I got to see Laura in action at the L.C. I knew both students and staff were just getting their feet wet with the after-school program. When I walked into the Library, I saw Laura standing in front of a group of 10-15 kids discussing their enrichment activity for the day. I watched as she spoke to the group, calling on students at different times. I knew that Laura was teaching an enrichment that involved students in a role-playing strategy game, and I had not been sure how students would react to this enrichment. To my surprise and pleasure, kids seemed 100% engaged and excited about what they were preparing to do. It was also enlivening to see Laura begin to teach these students about an activity she has grown to love in her own life.
Laura absolutely brings all of who she is to the Learning Center program, and our students are so lucky to have a leader like her to guide them along the way.
-Rod Nash, Director of Outreach, Trinity Pres. Church