Training To Go

I had a tough time figuring out what day I wanted to post this blog about Whitney Spence.

I thought about Teacher Tuesday because, even though Miss Spence is a Transporter, she uses her driving time to give life lessons to the students.

I wondered if The Office on Wednesday would be appropriate, but Miss Spence – although she’s considered support staff – doesn’t really have a desk job.

Maybe Friday’s Top Five? I could tell you all the things we love about Miss Spence, but then I’d have to rename the blog Friday’s Top Fifty because five doesn’t really do her justice.

How about Friday Fun?!  Miss Spence is definitely fun!  But she’s so much more than that. You wouldn’t get an accurate picture of Whitney if I focused only on her fun qualities.

Then I thought, “A unique spirit like Whitney really needs her own day,” so I’m giving her today – a Thursday - a day usually left open to write about creative ideas, dedicated to an open, creative person. It fits nicely.

As a Transporter/Job Coach, Miss Spence makes sure our third-year students get to their off-campus internships. But she does so much more than just drive. She fills the time in the car with encouragement and enthusiasm. She provides support and advice. She listens to the radio and books on tape, then talks to the students about the messages the stories and music are sending to the listeners. If the students are struggling in their new positions, Miss Spence will visit them at their jobs to provide assistance.  After she picks them up in the afternoon, she helps them as they write about their internship experiences in their daily journals.

It’s a full job and one far more intricate that her title suggests. Every day she deals with students who are nervous to be learning new skills or taking on new responsibilities. They’re in stressful and unfamiliar situations. They need someone to listen to them and someone to give them advice. They need a consistent person who can help them deal with real-life job-related issues, like calling in sick, co-worker problems and forgotten lunches. They need someone to create a safe and relaxed environment so they can open up and share their worries, set-backs, successes and progress. 

How does Miss Spence manage to do all that? 

She can because God gifted her with the right combination of kindness, compassion, empathy, patience and adaptability. He also threw in a healthy dose of quirky and fun in order to make the long car rides enjoyable!

Next time you’re on campus, come meet Miss Spence. You’ll quickly find out why training on wheels is proving so successful at Shepherds College. 

*On a side note, I just heard that Miss Spence will soon become Mrs. Patton. 

The Shepherds College family extends our heartfelt congratulations to the couple! The gem Jon is marrying is even lovelier than the one on her finger.

 

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