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.

Teacher Tuesday: Taking the Time to Understand

Who likes being misunderstood? Go ahead and raise your hand. Don’t be shy. Any takers?

That’s what I thought. No one likes to be misunderstood, misinterpreted, or misjudged. It’s just not something we look forward to. Rather, we want to be understood, identified, and appreciated.

                         

These are things that Mrs. Konopasek takes the time to do.

During my week with the students at Shepherds College, I observed two of Mrs. Konopasek’s Personal Development classes for the first year students. The students were giving personal speeches for their final, and Mrs. Konopasek was grading them. All of the students did an excellent job on their speeches, but some of them had a little trouble behaving professionally either before or after their presentations.

Mrs. Konopasek, Tess, and their new reptile friend

As a teacher, what do you think Mrs. Konopasek did? Yell? Reprimand? Ignore? Send the students to the office? Fail the students? Leave the room?

Let me tell you something: being a teacher is hard stuff. On a much smaller scale, I teach children ages 3-5, one night a week for two hours at a time. It certainly feels like a lot longer than that, but it’s really just two hours.

Sometimes when I am teaching the lesson, my students start to act up. Most of the time I am so engrossed with the lesson that instead of getting to the root of the students’ behavior problems, I simply ignore them or send them to the back of the room to sit with another teacher. This tactic often proves to be detrimental.

If I would take the time to comprehend my students’ problems, I would learn that many times they’re not misbehaving on purpose. They actually have cuts on their fingers or runny noses or the need to use the restroom. A lot of the problems can be solved pretty easily and without me becoming angry or upset. I just need to take the time to listen and understand.

Mrs. Konopasek does that with her students. She listens, and she understands.

During those class periods that I observed, there were two students in particular who were dealing with some issues.

One student began to cry after she received the grade for her presentation. Instead of ignoring the student and letting her “cry it out,” Mrs. Konopasek took the time to step aside and talk to the student. She encouraged the student and reminded her that even though she had wanted a different grade, the grade she had earned was still a very good one. Mrs. Konopasek then allowed the student to get a drink of water and take a short walk to calm her down and stop the tears. The student came back into the classroom looking composed and happy again. Once the problem was understood, there was a simple solution.

Another student dealt with obedience issues throughout the entire class period. She refused to listen and follow instructions, and when she was asked to obey an additional time, she became weepy and nonresponsive. It would have been very easy to send this student to the office, but would it have solved the problem?

Mrs. Konopasek took the time to find out. She spoke to the student privately and then removed the items that had become part of the student’s problem. If the student insisted on putting her books in the wrong place, then it would be best to move them out of sight. Once these two things were done, the student behaved in a completely different way. She was engaged and involved for the rest of the class period.

My guess is that this student was dealing with nerves, tension, and the overwhelming emotions that accompany the stress of finals week. Mrs. Konopasek wasn’t looking at just the behavior problem. She considered the entire context of the situation. Without this perspective, another teacher may have simply sent the student to the office. But Mrs. Konopasek was able to dig to the heart of the problem and remove the distractions instead of removing the student.

Doesn’t it feel wonderful to be understood? At Shepherds College, you can be. All of our teachers have been blessed with the gifts of patience and understanding. And Mrs. Konopasek has an extra-special talent in these areas. If you want to be heard and understood, you’ve come to the right place, and I know that Mrs. Konopasek would be more than willing to take the time to offer care and encouragement to each student that comes her way.

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