Experience Shepherds College

I’ve had three kids go off to college now.

It was funny how in high school, when they started the process of selecting a college, I heard a lot of comments like “I want to go to school in Arizona (or California, Texas, South Dakota, Hawaii…).” It was always someplace far away from, and warmer than, Wisconsin. 

Then in the senior year of high school the reality of leaving home hit hard, and the college search focused on schools in the Midwest.

Doubts started creeping in at this point. My kids wondered, “Do I really want to go to college? I’m making a good living stocking produce at Pick ‘N Save. Why do I need to leave for four years just to get a good job when I already have a good job?!” 

And then the college visits started.

At the schools, as we walked around campus touring the buildings and grounds, each of my incredibly loud and seriously weird kids suddenly became quiet, introspective and tried their best to blend in with the mass of other oddly behaving potential students on campus. They were filled with anxiety, fear and insecurity. When evening rolled around, and it was time to leave my child with a stranger for their overnight visit, I felt like the worst mom in the world. What was I doing to them? They don’t even want to be here!

I don’t know what happened between the angst-filled parting and breakfast the next morning, but my child was returned to me each time as an excited, confident young adult eager to venture into college life.  Was it the video games played until three o’clock in the morning? Was it the limitless supply of junk food displayed on every dust-covered surface in every smelly dorm room? Was it the game of human bowling ball played in the hallways? Whatever it was, it definitely was the college experience that sold my kids on post-secondary education.

Shepherds College offers something similar... sans the insanely late nights and flesh-and-blood sports equipment. 

Chris Wright

An Experience Shepherds College Visit (ESCV) offers potential students a real taste of what their first year will be like at Shepherds College. They essentially become one of our students for the time they are here test driving our program. Is the school a good fit for them? Does it meet their expectations for their post-secondary education?  The potential students evaluate us as much as we evaluate them.

The ESCV is a vital part of the application process. Once a student submits an application, we encourage them to schedule their ESCV and complete a packet of medical forms in preparation for the visit.

What happens then?

When a visiting student arrives on campus, the student and family meet with Chris Wright who will introduce them to the Nursing staff to discuss any medical issues.  After this important meeting, either Chris or Brian Canright will go over the schedule for how the student’s time will be spent on campus. They talk to the student about when they will be having assessments and what classes they’ll be taking during their stay. Classes could include Language Arts, Money Skills, Personal Development, Personal Bible Study, Roots of Faith, Study Skills, Computer Skills, Daily Living Skills, Health or Intro to either Culinary Arts or Horticulture.

Roots of Faith Class

If our visitor hasn’t received a t-shirt prior to their ESCV, Chris will give them one at this time to say “Thanks for coming!”

Brian Canright modeling a Shepherds College t-shirt

Suitcases and duffel bags get dropped off by Mrs. Harvey for safe keeping, and Chris or Brian will walk our visitor to their first class where they are introduced to the teacher and the other students.

The teacher will assign our ESCV visitor a host for their stay. The host is a first-year student who has expressed interest in this special role and who has determined his or her spiritual gift of hospitality.

Here is what two of our student hosts say about the hosting experience: 

"I would see if the visitor needed help. If they do then I will help them with whatever they need help with. If they have a difficult time with anything then I’ll ask the teacher to help. If the teacher can’t help them then we will try to help them." ~ Kathryn

"I would get to know the person so I could get along with them better.  Then I could know how the student learns and not assume on how the student learns and how the person gets along with others. They could be so nice to someone to make them feel welcomed and feel like they are important.  Making someone feel like that makes them feel important.  When someone makes someone feel important, the person that is made to feel important wants to be around the other person all the time.  When a visiting student comes, I would like to get to know them for who they really are. I want to try to get along with everyone and be an example for the other students on how to treat a visiting student." ~ Nikki

At the end of the school day, the host will help our visitor pick up their bags and find their dorm room. Once in the room, the Res Life staff will help them get settled as well as go over important stuff like what to do if the fire alarm goes off, where the staff member will be at night, and anything else that will put our visitor at ease.

Now it’s time for the evening programming! It can be any of a variety of well-supervised activities that involve board games, movies, sports, dinner, scrapbooking, shopping, parties, outings, art appreciation, community service, etc…

Chris and Brian check in often during the visitor’s stay to make sure that everything is going well.

When the ESCV is over, our Res Life staff will make sure bags are packed up and ready for our visitor’s departure… provided our visitor ever wants to leave.

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