Help Wanted

Day 14 of the 31 for 21 Challenge

The scariest day of the year is sneaking up on me.

 

No. It’s not Halloween.

It’s Board Meetings!!!

Usually, I start preparing my reports several weeks prior to the due date of the Board packet. As of today, I have done … absolutely nothing.

Well, not nothing.  I’ve posted, tweeted, pinned, interviewed, blogged and photographed, but have I written any reports?  Nope. Nada.

I’m feeling a little freaked out.

I have been formulating a plan however. It’s risky, but I might be able to pull it off - with your help.

Since so much of my time lately has gone toward developing and maintaining the blog, I have lots of good information I can report on in this area.

I just need to steer all questions from the committee toward the blog. I’m imagining it will go something like this:

Committee: “Has Facebook generated any traffic to the Shepherds College website?”
Me: “Facebook is our #1 traffic source to the blog.”

Committee: “How effective is Twitter as a referral source?”
Me: “Twitter is the #2 traffic source to the blog.”

Committee: “What updates have been necessary to maintain the college website?”
Me: “I added the cutest little widget that links directly to the blog.”

Committee: “Let’s talk about your budget…”
Me: “Why? The blog is free, Free, FREE!!!”

Committee: “What percentage of the total number of conference attendees visited our booth?”
Me: “Um, have you read the blog about my favorite pictures? It was a good one!”

Can you see how this strategy could work?

In order to develop the best blog Board report ever, I could use some information from you, the readers. I’m hoping every last one of you responds by posting in the comments section. Please.  You don’t even have to use your real name.

Here goes:

1.       How are you related to Shepherds College? i.e. Student, teacher, friend, parent, Executive Director, my mom…

2.       Why do you read Time To Fly? i.e. Information, entertainment, looking at the pictures, working your way through the 31 for 21 Challenge bloggers, checking to make sure I'm actually writing and not just playing Angry Birds…

3.       How often do you visit the blog? i.e. daily, weekly, when your mom tells you I posted a picture of you...

4.       What do you like about the blog? i.e. Teacher Tuesdays, stories about the students, pictures of food, a specific story…

5.       What type of story would you like to see more of?

Thank you! With your help, I hope to make this blog a great source of information about Shepherds College and a joy for you to visit.

And maybe this Board meeting won’t be so scary after all.

 

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

Friday's Top Five: What You Need to Know

Right now, I’d like to spend some one-on-one time with all of you students out there. If you’re considering Shepherds College even the tiniest bit for yourself or someone else, please read this blog because for my last post at Shepherds College, I want to be completely honest with you. I want to let you in on the little secret of what Shepherds College is really like.

There are some things that you need to know about Shepherds College, so I’ve put together a list to share with you. Here’s the scoop:

1. You will have countless incredible opportunities at Shepherds College.

One of the many great things about Shepherds College is the fact that they provide so much hands-on learning. Applied learning is used regularly in the classroom, but in my opinion, the best hands-on experience at Shepherds College is your internship. All students are required to complete an internship during their third year of school. What a unique opportunity! It’s not every day that you get to trade exams and classrooms for the chance to gain firsthand experience in the field you want to work in. 

Melissa working at her internship site

But the opportunities do not stay tied to the educational or vocational aspects. Shepherds College offers you opportunities in residential life, too. When you live on campus, you learn how to share living space with other people, how to maintain your home, and how to handle your personal finances. You’ll also have a great chance to get involved with residential life activities like going bowling, attending baseball games, having a pizza party, or enjoying a bonfire. How fun is that? Needless to say, the opportunities abound at Shepherds College.

Zoe enjoying his day at the beach

2. You will learn many new and exciting things at Shepherds College.

I know this one seems pretty obvious since Shepherds College is a school and schools are usually associated with learning, but students here learn so much more than what’s in the textbooks. You will learn how to give a speech, resolve conflict, grow a relationship, live for Christ, plant flowers, bake cupcakes, apply for a job, prepare for an interview, dress professionally, clean your room, and go grocery shopping. And that’s just to name a few of the things you will learn at Shepherds College! There’s a lot of learning going on around here, and believe me, you do not want to miss out.

Miss Houk helping Gloria prepare dinner

3. You will find wonderful role models at Shepherds College.

The teachers at Shepherds College are the best, and I’m not just saying that. I really mean it. What makes these teachers so great is the fact that they don’t confine the student-teacher relationships to the classroom. They’re available outside of class to counsel students, help them with their studies, offer advice, or just hang out. They really want to build friendships, and I think that’s so important.

Everybody needs someone to look up to, and it is crucial for the teachers at Shepherds College to be those positive role models to their students. The teachers look out for their students because they want them to succeed in all areas of life, not just in the classroom.

Mrs. Luchterhand and Kelsie

4. You will make many fantastic new friends at Shepherds College.

Here’s what I love about Shepherds College: the sense of camaraderie among the students. Of course, just like the rest of us, there are days with disagreements or bad moods, but overall, the students truly love and care for each other.

They are all diverse. They have different likes and dislikes. They have distinctive personalities. Some are outgoing. Some are shy. Some are gentle while others are impulsive. But they make it all work. 

Donovan and Dallas

When you graduate from Shepherds College, I guarantee you will have numerous friends, but you will also have an extra family, the Shepherds College family. And no matter where you go or what you do in life, you will always have that connection. Who wouldn’t want to have a bond like that?

Daniella and Lindsay

5. You will be challenged and encouraged to do your very best at Shepherds College.

Who likes mediocrity? My guess is no one does. We all like to excel, and whether we appreciate it or not at the time, we need to be pushed to do our best. The people at Shepherds College will do that. They will support you and persuade you to be the best that you can be at every moment of every day. Teachers will push you academically. The staff will push you spiritually. Fellow students will push you socially. Encourage, encourage, encourage. Think what you could do with all of that positive sharpening.

Kyle studying Horticulture

Daniel and Annie studying Culinary Arts

At some point in our lives, we’ve all been told that we can’t do something. Well, at Shepherds College, they tell you that you can. You can do it. It is possible. Spread your wings and follow those dreams. With the proper goals and the right motivation, you can accomplish so much more than you think you can. Shepherds College wants to help you see that.

Samuel spending time in God's Word

                                                                

Aren’t you glad you now know what Shepherds College is really like? Pretty good secrets, huh? I’m delighted I could share them with you, and I hope you will consider Shepherds College for yourself or the student in your life.

During my first week at Shepherds College, I heard a student say, “We’ve had a college experience like none other.” I would certainly have to agree with her. Shepherds College truly is an experience like none other. And that’s no secret.

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

Friday's Top Five

We have a lot to be thankful for at Shepherds College, and we want to share those blessings with you. So, every Friday, we plan to produce a list of our top accomplishments, moments, memories, and of course, blessings. Every list will be a little different, but they’ll all communicate the amazing things that are going on at Shepherds College.

Today, we want to share with you the top five most exciting things that have recently happened at Shepherds College:

1. The start-up of our blog!

Shepherds College blog, Time to Fly, went live on June 15. We are eager to see this blog reach more potential students, their parents, and education professionals. This blog will be used to share the stories of the students and faculty at Shepherds College because after all, they are the true face of the college. We hope to introduce you to our teachers through Teacher Tuesdays and the college’s main office staff through the weekly segment, The Office. So, if you haven’t taken the time to peruse the previous posts on our blog, read them and spread the word about Time to Fly.

2. The Class of 2012 has graduated!

June 9 was a bright and beautiful day, the perfect day for seven Shepherds College students to become graduates. After spending three years at Shepherds College, the second graduating class completed their program and received their certificates. Family, friends, and Shepherds College students and staff were there to celebrate with the graduates. It was an emotional day for everyone in attendance as it was easy to see the excitement and sense of accomplishment on the students’ faces. Congratulations, Class of 2012, on a job well done!

3. Photos from the 2012 Commencement Celebration are in!

On the night before graduation, Shepherds College graduates gathered with their families and college staff to celebrate their accomplishments. It was a special time for students and faculty to share their experiences from the last three years. Jim and Cathi Leibforth of Leibforth Photography volunteered their time and services to provide beautiful, professional photography for the students and their families. The Leibforths delivered the disk of original photos to Shepherds yesterday! The photos look wonderful, and we can’t wait to share all of them with you.

4. Shepherds College has been approved for Federal Student Aid!

Shepherds College students are now able to file for federal funding. Just like other college students, families can fill out FAFSA forms and apply for grants and loans to help them offset the cost of tuition. This new accomplishment is huge for the college. It took about 15 months for Shepherds College to receive the federal aid approval. We can’t wait to see how this exciting event will impact our current and future students.

5. Shepherds College is getting some attention!

Between the 2012 graduation and the recent approval for Federal Student Aid, Shepherds College has been generating some attention from various media sources. Check out this article at My Racine County.com to read about the graduation. Read this article in the Racine Journal Times or this article at My Racine County.com to learn more about the FSA approval. Also, check back with us as we plan to see some articles about Shepherds College in other publications in the near future.

As you can see, God has blessed us in several incredible ways in the last few weeks. Join us again soon to see what else we have to be thankful for.

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

The Office: Opportunity for Prayer

Variety – it’s the spice of life.

We want to make this blog fun and exciting to read. It should be fresh and interesting. So what better way to do that than by incorporating some variety?

We’ve said before that Shepherds College is all about the stories. But these stories cannot be told by just one person. That would be boring and pointless. Think about it. One person couldn’t possibly witness all there is to see and do around Shepherds College campus. And even if he could, people see things differently, and the various ways we view things result in new and different stories. Variety!

With this in mind, we would like to introduce “The Office.” This weekly segment will feature a post from someone in the main college office on campus. Whoever writes the post for the week is sure to have the inside story of what’s going on at Shepherds College.

Today, you will hear from Cathy Harvey, the Administrative Assistant to the Dean. So, enjoy her story of how she’s preparing for the upcoming school year in a very special way.

Posted by Cathy Harvey

I love the stories that come through the Dean’s and the Director’s offices—amazing details of how God provided or opened doors for students and staff to be a part of this miraculous venture.

Cathy Harvey with Jocelyn and Melissa

But now, the students are at home for the summer, so what exactly are we doing?  Parents often ask me if we get a break for the summer.  Well, yes, a little.  We like everyone to take some time off—it’s a much needed rest after a year of challenges.  Most are surprised to hear the office is open all summer, but we need the time to prepare for the next semester and train new employees: teachers, advisors, after-school Residential Life staff, and weekend staff.

Today is particularly quiet, so as the Administrative Assistant, besides responding to parental emails, I am making all the new students’ files and praying for each one as I apply the labels with each of their names.  I am praying that we can do a good work for God and for them while they are here for three short years.  I am praying they will be open and teachable, and most of all, I pray for those who may not know God and how much He loves them and has a plan for their lives.

Every day, I think about what great things I can do for God in my little station.  It’s a big deal to God, and it’s a big deal to me. What can I do TODAY, right where I am in my little corner of Shepherds College, to honor God, use my gifts, lift a load for someone, and bring someone closer to Jesus?  Today, I am praying as I go for all the new students making the first big transition from home to school in Union Grove, Wisconsin.

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