Room to Grow

While most of Shepherds College – and Shepherds Ministries for that matter – is full of chatter and high energy, this corner of campus is much different.

It’s quiet and warm in here. The building is flooded with bright sunlight. It smells of soil and sweet, floral perfume. The only sounds are the whir of metal fans mounted to the side of the building and muted conversation among the students and their instructor.

This is the greenhouse – the classroom for the Horticulture students and the playground for their imaginations.

The relaxed and peaceful atmosphere is like therapy to the soul. It seems like time moves a little slower in here. There’s none of that fast-pace rush from here to there that seems to control the rest of our lives. Not here. And even if you lack a green thumb (like I do), there’s just something about the greenhouse that makes you feel at home.

The students can sense that serenity, too. In fact, Rachel chose the Horticulture major specifically for the quiet, low-key atmosphere of the greenhouse. Noise can be distressing to her, so she finds solace in the peace of this building.

I loved wandering through the rows of plants, admiring the hard work of the students. There were flowers I had never heard of, plants that typically grow in very different climates, garden vegetables, and a section of plants that needed healing, like a plant hospital. The students were doctoring them up for staff members who lack their gardening skills, just as I do.

The students find so much joy in their studies, and they each love different aspects of working in the greenhouse. They have various strengths and talents that will serve them well in their future careers.

I’m convinced that Ray can name every plant that was ever grown in the greenhouse. His memory amazes me. And these aren’t easy names like “daisy” or “rose.” We’re talking about plants called “papyrus” and “celosia.”

Sean’s interest in plants is focused on a slightly different area of the growth process. He loves breaking down materials and adding them to the compost pile. Sean’s role aids the cycle of plant life. The work he does will help plants continue to grow in the future.

And there’s Tess. She wants to see her plants grow and thrive. Tess enjoys designing flower beds and floral pieces. Her dream is to work in a florist shop, but for now, she’s focused on nurturing her plants. She offered me a shy smile as she showed me the flower bed she was working on. It was truly beautiful.

“Plants are really pretty, and I want to make them grow,” Tess said.

That desire to help things grow and flourish is so innate. We all love to see things develop and mature. But even though you can manipulate the amount of fertilizer, water, and sunlight a plant receives, you cannot completely control the rate at which a plant will grow. It matures at its own pace.

Plants are kind of like us in that way. We each grow at our own pace, too. People will try to rush us or push us in a certain direction, but not everyone reaches the same milestones at the same time. There is not a general formula for growth or learning. God has created each of us in a unique way, and we will grow at the pace He has designed for us.

This is why the greenhouse is the ideal place for students at Shepherds College to learn. Each student has plenty of space to spread out and to grow and succeed at their own pace. As the students’ plants develop, so do they.

Little pressure and frustration, lots of love and nurturing, and just the right amount of sunlight – sounds like the perfect place to grow, don’t you think?

Shepherds College - Guiding Your Transition to Appropriate Independence. Please visit us at www.shepherdscollege.org.