Perry Rettig
This past July I introduced to you a member of our community who has had her share of personal struggles. Jacquie is raising her daughter, Brianna, on her own and is scraping by to make ends meet. After searching her options, Jacquie enrolled in college to earn a degree in education and become certified as a teacher. It’s time for a quick update now that her first semester is over.
When Jacquie began classes this fall she didn’t know if she would have what it takes to make it in college. Would she be smart enough, and would she be able to handle the workload? Jacquie had a case of imposter syndrome where she felt as if she wasn’t as capable as the others around her and she didn’t belong. I think I convinced her she was quite capable and deserved to be in college. Still, I know some lingering doubts persist.
Because of a good financial aid package, Jacquie was able to attend classes full-time. Part-time status, she decided, would keep her from achieving her dream for too long. Her academic advisor helped Jacquie choose a good mix of classes for her major along with classes to fulfill her general education requirements.
Her gen ed course schedule included Transformational Events in Western Civilization – a class she absolutely loved, but perhaps because the professor was fun; and, Public Communication – this class frightened her, but the professor was the most affirming and empowering woman she ever met.
Jacquie’s major classes included Introduction to Professional Practice, Mathematics for Teachers, and Learning & Cognition. The former class was interesting because it made her feel capable of entering the field of teaching.
The Mathematics course was challenging, but her professor took the time to work with her independently and would not move on until she truly understood; “he was a lifesaver.” Learning & Cognition was her favorite course, because, well, I taught it. While I cannot attest to the veracity of that statement, Jacquie did come to understand how the brain learns and the various approaches to reach all learners. And I taught it.
Before the semester began, Jacquie had two haunting concerns. The first was about technology. Would her laptop computer be adequate, and did she have the acumen necessary for the classroom. She realized in the first week that she hadn’t any reason to worry. The IT staff and the faculty were supportive, and she could readily access any technology necessary. She even took one of her classes online and found she participated more in this class than the others. Her online learning will serve as a topic for a column later this coming year.
Jacquie’s other big concern was finances. She felt so fortunate to have received a good financial aid package.
But she was most pleased with the opportunity to find a position on campus as a student-worker. Even better, she was able to work in the Athletics Department. This got her back to the gymnasium and the fields, back to her comfort zone. This was just fun! The folks in the Athletic Department worked around her schedule to find times that worked best for her.
Final grades have yet to be posted, but Jacquie felt good about the semester. The professors continually made sure their students were aware of their progress; there were no surprises. Her second semester schedule includes: U.S. Literature, General Psychology, Geography in the P-12 Classroom, Spanish I, and Media & Technology for Educators.
It has been a challenging semester. College studies are demanding and rewarding at the same time. Still, her schedule was manageable and even gave her some time to check out campus life. Jacquie hasn’t joined any clubs or organizations. Instead, she attended a couple of meetings of different groups to see what might interest her.
Two groups caught her eye. One was just a fun way to relax and unwind, while the other would look good on her resume – which she began to develop with the help of the folks in Career Services. In fact, Jacquie has an idea for a new student professional organization and hopes to start it next semester with the help of her academic advisor.
Finally, Jacquie wants to embrace Brianna with the college culture. They’ve attended two volleyball matches, a theater production, and a concert. Brianna has loved it. She already knows what she wants to do – it’s not teaching. She wants to work in theater production, and the students already adore her.
Last I checked, both Jacquie and Brianna had smiles on their faces.
Dr. Perry Rettig is a community contributor for The Northeast Georgian. He is a former vice president at Piedmont University and is now a distinguished university professor at Piedmont.