Action #6 Volunteer in or Join an Organization or Get Involved in a Group Comprised of People Who Are Significantly Different Than You

There are many organizations here on Campus that grant many opportunities to learn about different people. One organization that I choose to get involved with is the Black Student Union. I attended their Red Carpet Event this past Saturday here on campus. I went with a big group of girls and danced the night away to R&B and Hip-Hop music. I am also a part of the Campus Activities Council here on campus and we have decided to team up with BSU for some of the on-campus events this year.

Another group that I've decided to get involved with this year is the Latin Student Union. They have weekly salsa lessons in the Java Junction and I attend them almost every Sunday. Dancing is something that I really enjoy and it is fun to learn a style that I am not familiar with. I've also gained a new love for Latin music because of my various friends involved in LSU or that have been on SST in Spanish speaking countries.

Goshen has allowed me to learn about different cultures through many clubs, organizations, and just by the people I come encounter with. This will allow to be a teacher that is aware of the different cultures around me and how to react in those situations. It will also help me grow as a person in this very diverse world.

Action #9 Learning to Identify Allies

One thing that I've learned upon coming to college is that you can't do it all alone. I went through a lot of changes in my first semester of college and it took me a long time to adapt to the different atmosphere. But in a way I can't explain, a certain girl came into my life. It was the start of second semester and we had a lot of the same friends. We both had gone through a lot first semester and the effects were starting to wear on us. We ended up talking about these issues and realized we had a lot more in common than we thought. Immediately following, we became close friends and now we are roommates. One of the things we had in most common was our religion and faith. Kaylee Pichardo and I are both Methodist and it brought us together in a strange way.

Spring Break started to approach last year and Kaylee and I decided to take a leap of faith together. We volunteered ourselves to service in Gulfport, Mississippi through a local Methodist church here in Goshen for hurricane Katrina relief. We worked on various houses that needed redone after the hurricane and stayed at a Methodist church from the area. We spent our week long break growing closer to each other and to God. We learned a lot about each other and that we share a spiritual friendship that can't be broken.



Now as roommates, we have become spiritual friends and share with each other on a regular basis. We attend River Oaks Christian Church each Sunday and we are in the same Bible study here on campus. We also have frequent chats about how our spiritual lives are going and any other thing that might be on our mind.

Not only is Kaylee my roommate and my spiritual partner, she is also my study buddy. Last year Kaylee and I tried our hardest to sign up for the same classes so that we would be able to study together. We have Spanish together and oral communication next semester. So everyday, we study our Spanish vocab together and help each other with our homework, whether it is for Spanish or not. We made flash-cards for each chapter and study them before each quiz, we also share our books and sit next to each other in class. That way we can help each other if needed.

Through my friendship with Kaylee, I've learned that it is important to identify your allies and who you can trust in life. Kaylee and I have a friendship that will last a lifetime and I've learned a lot from her. As a teacher, it will be very important for me to identify allies within my work space. I now know what kind of person that should be and what kind of person I want it to be.

Action # 4 Become Aware That You Are a Role Model and Act Accordingly

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a role model as:
"a person whose behavior in a particular role is imitated by others"

Throughout my lifetime, I have come to find out that people are imitating my actions and behavior for every role I have ever played. It's a scary thought and because I consider myself a role model here in Goshen and my hometown, I am always watching what I say and do for the sake of others. When you become a role model in the community, it is your job to uphold that title and lead others on the right path, wherever that path may lead.

Throughout High School, I was involved in many organizations and clubs that directly put me in the limelight of younger generations and the youth of my community, these I will touch more on later. But here at Goshen, it is hard to place myself in large organizations and clubs because of the lack of time I have. I have found that there are many small things I can do as a college student that still allow me to be a role model around campus. Since the college scene is almost always filled with temptation and self discovery, I have the power to illistrate good and healthy behavior outside of the normal "college atmosphere."

Weekends are always a chance for students to "let loose" and forget about all the homework that is due on Monday. Whether that means going to a party, hanging out with friends, or just stayin up as late as possible doing God knows what; most students are "too tired" to wake up for church on Sunday. On a Christian campus, most people are expected to have some sort of faith and spiritual life. But upon coming to Goshen, I've realized that this isn't always the case and most of the students here don't put in the kind of effort they should. As a Christian myself, I find it very important to show that your faith is a very important part of your life and that making the effort is everything. That is why I attend church regularly, participate in a Bible study here on campus, and attend the Campus Worship Nights as well. Every time I invite someone to accompany me, I can tell that it makes them aware of their choices and the fact that they aren't attending those events. I am a role model in that sense and it is comforting to know these actions are beneficial to my spiritual life as well as have an effect on others. I could even possibly bring someone to Christ through these actions.

Another way I am representing a role model here on campus is through my participation with Goshen College Athletics. I've been an athlete for ten or more years and I know what it is like to be watched by hundreds of people at a time and the effects that has on younger athletes. Here at Goshen, I am still merely a sophomore, but the freshman girls on my team are still looking up to me primarily because I have had experience playing college volleyball. Most of the freshman are already comfortable playing at this different level, but they still need someone to go to for help or assistance. They will most often go to an upperclassmen. In that sense, I am a role model in how I act on the court, how I play on the court, and how I behave off the court. It is my responsibility as an upperclassmen to be a positive role model for the younger players and the ones to come.



The only way I have come to know what it's like to be constantly watched and looked upon is through my activities in High School. I was a three sport athlete, involved in ten clubs (literally), a member of the concert choir, and participated in the Musicals and Plays every year. Now that's what I call being put out there for the world to see. A lot of these clubs, sports, and musicals mostly took up a lot of time and energy but the rewards were endless. I was a role model in my community and I could tell that I was actually making a difference in various people's lives.

One organization I was highly involved in and still is, is called PRIDE Youth Programs. PRIDE is a drug and alcohol prevention program that uses performances to spread our message. Each year, I would make skits, PSA's, dances, posters, etc; all spreading a positive message to the youth of today. I would also travel around the country for conferences and to perform for local schools in my area. I made lasting friendships with a team from Sao Palo, Brasil and traveled to Washington D.C. to talk to US representatives about the issues of today. I gained three sisters from Brasil and a new appreciation for other cultures. I was immediately placed as a role model in my community and around the country, I was on fire for the youth; wanting the very best for them. I learned so much through this group and I am still highly involved in what they stand for and accomplish throughout the year. My senior year of High School, my PRIDE team was rewarded for our efforts and we were named "National PRIDE Team of the Year." The following is a link to the PRIDE website, honoring our team. http://prideyouthprograms.org/conference.php?year=2006&event=2

While here at Goshen, I have tried to stay involved with my PRIDE team. I have volunteered at some of our local conferences and performances, taking pictures or helping with the various duties. I also volunteered as the official photographer for the 2007 National Conference in Charleston, West Virginia.



Originally from Crawfordsville, Indiana; a hick town if you will. You could consider me a farm girl. I participated in 4-H for ten years and was part of the Jr. Leaders club as well. I completed projects ranging from flowers, sheep, dog, cats, arts and crafts, geology, scrap booking, and woodworking. Another part of 4-H was the Montgomery County 4-H Queen Contest. My sister did it for four years and I look up to my sister in many ways. As soon as I was eligible at the age of fifteen, I signed up and found myself looking out at a crowd of over 500 people; answering a pop question in a formal gown. The Montgomery County 4-H Queen Contest is highly looked upon in my county and the Queen is supposed to be a positive representative of Montgomery County. My third year running for the title, I was crowned Miss Montgomery County and I've been a role model ever since. I passed out ribbons at the county fair, gave speeches around the county, sat through the Christmas parade, and am one of only 50 women in the last 100 years who holds this title. After receiving that title, I competed at the state level and spent a weekend around the Indiana State Fair, truly feeling like royalty.



Upon receiving this title, I gained the obligation of helping with the next year's contest, helping the girls to get through their nerves and giving them the best advice I can give as a past queen. I also volunteered to teach the dance portion of the contest, taking on a second responsibility for the summer. I am also teaching the dance again this coming summer. I just can't get away from that contest and all the opportunities it gives me to lead in my community.



While all these opportunities I've received have put me in a positive light, nothing compares to the memories I've gained. I now know what it's like to have those little eyes looking up at you like you are perfect, and though this is not true; it is flattering and stressful at the same time. When I become a teacher some day, I will regain that role model figure and have to live up to it in everything I do. I now know what it takes to do that and I am ready for the challenge.

Action #10 Study Effective Teachers

The following interviews were conducted to see what characteristics make an effective teacher from the perspective of various Goshen College students.


Jocelyn Miller: Sophomore, Nursing Major

"A teacher who can teach at all angles, who can teach people who have different ways of learning. I also think an effective teacher can incorporate fun times with studies. They except people with disabilities and go at a pace that is helpful for everyone. It may not be just a person with a disability, but the teacher adapts to the different levels of the students. An effective teacher is always there for explanations and is helpful in every way to a student."



Allison Hawkins: Sophomore, Business Major

"I feel that a teacher who can integrate real life applications into the classroom is an effective teacher. The teacher doesn't just teach concepts, but makes things applicable. They also enjoy teaching and can tell that they enjoy it. They relate to their students and can pull their students into what they're learning with their effective teaching style."



Timothy Blaum: Sophomore, Communication Major

"They have to take personal care or have a personal interest in their students. They have to like what they are talking about. They have to present things in unique ways, not just lecturing all the time. They need to get feedback from the students, just as much as we get feedback from them. I find that my effective professors tend to be involved in other things around campus. They have a sense of humor."



Kaylee Pichardo: Sophomore, Business Major

"An effective teacher is someone who is well organized and prepared for their daily lessons in which they include things that prepare their students for the future. They teach in ways that the students will understand the material and in ways that the students will want to participate. Someone who has a mixture of teaching styles and methods so that all students are able to enjoy learning because all students have different learning abilities. "




Brittany Hershberger: Sophomore, Biology Major

"A teacher who is able to reach all students with their methods of teaching. They care a lot about their students and build relationships with them. They make the learning process fun and use different methods so that all students can learn in their different ways."




Allison Miller: Freshman, Special Education Major

"Somebody who actually cares about who the student is as a person and they can develop more of a personal relationship with the student because I think it is important if you know if your student has certain disabilities and can cater to those disabilities. You don't just want to make your student another number in the class. The teacher is not someone to be afraid of but someone you can go to for help. Teachers are more effective when you feel you can go to them for anything."



Chloe Mathonnet-Vanderwell: Freshman, Sociology Major

"An effective teacher is somone who enables the students to think critically and asks deeper questions. Teachers shouldn't just ask their students to memorize trivial facts, but help develop the mind. Effective teachers like to make their classes fun and actually enjoy what they are teaching."





Sara Padilla: Freshman, Nursing Major

"A teacher who has mastered different learning styles and is able to teach them effectively, therefore they can teach a range of students and each student can be satisfied in terms of their different learning needs. They have a personal or good relationship with the student, this opens it up for the student and enables them to be more comfortable with the teacher."




Jordan Swartzendruber: Senior, Communication Major

"In my experience, a teacher who cares about educating their students has been those most effective. Also, they have different teaching methods that engage different types of learners. They have a lot of energy when they teach and care about their students on a personal level."




Jeffrey Hochstetler: Senior, Business and History Major

"Someone who is able to empathize with their students. They make it their responsibility to see their students succeed. Good teachers for me have always been good role models; they are respected in their communities, in their homes, and in the classroom."



All of these interviews have opened my eyes to what an effective teacher looks like in the eyes of a student. As a perspective teacher myself, it is important to know what kind of teaching styles or methods are most effective for students. Based off of these interviews, I need to be the kind of teacher that relates to students, prepares them for the future, adapts to all different learners, and holds a unique and fun classroom setting.