Memories...

Shepherds College is a very different place in the summer months. The hallways are dark, the classrooms are silent, and the heady aromas of warm, yeasty breads, melting chocolate, and braising meats from the Culinary Arts Kitchen have disappeared from the air.  The dorm walls are stripped of posters, the instructors leave on well-deserved vacations, and the Horticulture classroom looks strangely colorless without all the fresh blooms the students arrange into centerpieces.

Within the tangible emptiness, something living lingers – drifting, hovering, and teasing from every classroom and hallway - the memories of the students who have made their way into the lives and hearts of the faculty and staff of Shepherds College.

Last week, we said goodbye to the Class of 2014. We said goodbye to Miranda’s power-packed greetings, Daniela’s hugs, and Dallas’s unexpected sense of humor. We will miss Joe’s intensity and Bethany’s earnest desire to serve others. The graduates have left behind the ghosts of their unique personalities to remind us that every life impacts another. Shepherds College may have made a mark on their lives, but each of the graduates made an impression on our lives as well. 

Before school ended, I asked the first and second year students to tell me about their favorite memories involving the graduating Class of 2014, the memories that will still be hanging on long after the graduates have found apartments, meaningful jobs and have settled into their independent lives. This is what they shared:

Christi

“I would have Christi over for lunch or dinner, play Bowling with her on Wii, and make her laugh. I loved hearing her boisterous laugh.” ~ Sarah

“One of my favorite memories with Christi is having pizza in her apartment and watching Mrs. Doubtfire.” ~ Suzanne

“My favorite memories are when we went with them on the Amazing Race Retreat and field trips.” ~ Ellie

Donovan

“We laughed, had fun and we had good times playing Halo 2 on the PS2.” ~ Ryan

 

 “My favorite memory of the third-year students is going to the park with them and playing football and water tubing.” ~ Anthony

“My favorite memory is of all the activities we had the opportunity to do with the upper classmen such as going to exciting events with them. Also having ROTC with them in the gym.” ~ Wade

Miranda

  

“When Miranda and I got to watch a movie, she picked out ‘Are We There Yet?’ Miranda and I were laughing while watching the movie together.” ~ Crystal

“I had fun bowling with them.” ~ Andrew

“Being in Mr. Gaschke’s class with them.” ~ Nick

Brian

“When Brian came down every Wednesday to help us make breakfast in the Commons. Halo tournaments on Wednesdays when other people went to SNAP Fitness. When Dallas spun the giant wheel at Action Territory and won 1,000 tickets.” ~ Jonathan

“When they would all come to the café.” ~ Matt

“My favorite memory of this graduating class is Brian because I love him when he does his funny talk and makes me laugh all the time that I know of in my life. Every time I meet Brian, he makes me laugh all the time.” ~ David

Daniela

“Flying on the same plane as Daniela.” ~ Joey

“I went to Daniela’s apartment and had dinner together. It was fun. We watched TV after dinner, and we had a blast. We also chased a bug around the apartment. I thought it was funny.” ~ Cherokee

“Just getting to know them all and being able to sing with them.” ~ Ashley

Katy

“My favorite memory was when Katy made me laugh so hard, I almost died! HAHA!!” ~ Willetta

“My favorite memory is making Katy laugh by telling her jokes.” ~ Kirsten

“I will miss singing musicals with Katy.” ~ Krista

 

Sean

“My favorite memory of a third-year of 2014 is getting to know Sean and getting to know what each year at Shepherds College holds.” ~ Olya

 "They were all fun to hang out with.” ~ Geovanni

“I liked having Sean, Christian, Daniela and Katy in the Academic Advisor meetings with Mrs. Miles.” ~ Joshua

 

Christian

 “We had fun times hanging out together. It was nice getting to know them a little more.” ~ Julian

“The third-year students worked very hard, and they were fun to have in class.” ~ Grant

Nicole

 “Some of my favorite memories of this year’s graduates are of the times we all got together to have a girls’ fun movie or board game night. Every one of them was fun to hang out with. Their personalities were positive as well as funny at times, and other times they were sad and serious.” ~ Kathryn

“My favorite memory of the students in the 2014 graduating class is being able to get to know them. Being able to do things with them like grocery shopping and just having fun together.” ~ Nikki

  

Joe

“Seeing Joe and talking to him and all the graduating students in AiA Café.” ~ Nathan

“When all the guys sung around the campfire knowing that we would probably never be like that with the third-year students ever again.” ~ Tommy

Dallas

“Seeing the Casting Crowns concert with some of the students and getting three souvenirs.” ~ Philip

“My favorite memory of the graduating class is them helping us learn about the majors that we are in.” ~ Torrey

“My favorite memories are of going to paintball and basketball, plus going to the beach at Michigan. Going to Chick-fil-A and hockey games with them are all of my other favorite times as well as the movies.” ~ Micah

Bethany

“As a first-year student at Shepherds College, I’ve gotten to know most of the third-year students. Some of us got to know one another, and we hung out during school activities. Some of us didn’t get along at first, and at times we didn’t see eye to eye. At the end of the school year, I can see how my friendships with the third-year students have grown. I will remember who I have met and how we are all the same. We each have a disability, but it’s different. We all have different ways of learning. I know that God will find each one their purpose. They will grow through the years to come.” ~ Isaac

Class of 2014,
You will always be remembered.
Love,
Your friends at Shepherds College

 


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

The Office: Your Life Is a Mosaic Masterpiece

The following blog is from the heart of Cathy Harvey, Administrative Assistant to Shepherds College

A note to our upcoming graduates:

 Welcome, upcoming graduates, or graduands as Webster defines you prior to graduation—to your new adventure, and possibly a new church, new apartment, neighborhood, community—and your next big step—Appropriate Independence!  One season of your life comes to a close as a new one begins.  They combine like mosaic pieces to form a stained glass picture, a picture of who you are.  So here it comes, what you have all waited for—the answer to the big question, “What will you do 'after graduation?'"

 

Fill in the blanks:  My name is  ______________________________________.

I will live in  ______________________________________________.

God wired me for (name a skill/task)____________________________________, 

so every day I can serve God at (name a company, organization or church)_____________________________________ by (name an action) _______________________________________________________________.

And so, your mosaic takes shape. In reality, it began taking shape before you were born, with your parents and siblings, where God placed you at birth: what country, what state, what neighborhood, and what era in history. None of these factors were in your control.  They were the first gifts God gave you, the core of who you were to become.

For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb…My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place....Your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13, 15-16)

God has had a plan, and He has been adding pieces to your mosaic to create you, me, and everyone in the world—you are His masterpiece from before time began.

 “For you are his workmanship (masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus, to do good works which God planned before you were born to be your way of life.”  (Ephesians 2:10)

Your life is reflected in all the pieces.  Blue, violet, green, gold—all the colors of the rainbow featuring the seasons and stages of life and all the people and experiences who have shaped and influenced you.  Bright yellows and gleaming whites for all of the good and happy times, the triumphs and celebrations.  They are highlighted even more so because of the contrast of the dark pieces of glass: the challenges, the sadness and grief that make you stronger and more compassionate.  Both are necessary to keep life in balance.

I hope you will cherish all seasons for what they offer.  Appreciate the rain as well as the sunshine; appreciate every day and each shard of colored glass as part of the masterful mosaic He is creating for His glory through you.   

No matter how you look at it, you are a magnificent and beautiful masterpiece. 

CONGRATULATIONS, 3^rd year students—you made it to the Shepherds College finish line!

Thank you to Sierra for this beautiful "mosaic" of all our graduates!

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

I Wish

“The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them. If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

                                            

Dreams. They allow us to step away from reality for a moment and imagine amazing possibilities. When we’re dreaming, we don’t have to worry about the bills that need to be paid or the pile of laundry that needs to be washed or the exams that need to be taken. We are just free to imagine.

Shepherds College is the fruit of dreams. It was born from desires for a unique program that catered to young adults with intellectual disabilities. It may have seemed like an impossible dream to some people, but with hard work and God’s provision, that fantasy became reality. Now that Shepherds College is in operation, it is a primary launching pad for other dreams.

Imagine the day you find out that you’re going to have a child. Such hopes and aspirations would originate. You would want certain things for your child, and you would imagine your child’s life heading in a specific direction.

Then, imagine the day when you are told that your child, this child you are eagerly expecting, has a disability. How heartbreaking that must be. How frightening. In that one moment, you feel as if everything you’ve hoped and planned for came crashing down. That perfect little world of wishes you created has been smashed into a million pieces. And you’re not sure if you will ever be able to dream again.

But there is a way to transform those dreams and turn them into something new.
 

Last week, I led a tour for a couple that decided spur of the moment to visit Shepherds College. This couple had just found out about Shepherds Ministries the day before, and they were overflowing with excitement about the college. You see, their granddaughter has Down syndrome.

When they learned of their granddaughter’s diagnosis, I’m sure some of their dreams for her were crushed. They had to rethink what this little girl’s life would be like. They had to let go of some of the plans they had for her.

But as this couple visited Shepherds College, I believe some of those old, forsaken dreams started to come back to life. The couple saw the greenhouse and culinary arts classrooms where students learn a craft and refine their skills. They saw the beautiful housing options that teach students how to live with others and handle responsibilities. They heard about the graduates who are now employed and living on their own.

I think that couple could imagine their granddaughter here, learning and growing and becoming more independent than they may have believed possible. I think they reinvented dreams for their granddaughter that day. Dreams of success and happiness.

Shepherds College can do that. They can take old, broken wishes that seem unattainable and change them a little to make them possible. That’s what they’re all about – seeing abilities instead of disabilities and understanding that all people are designed with a specific purpose in mind.

I included a quote at the beginning of this article. It’s a beautiful quote about reaching for dreams that seem beyond our capabilities. Some people get discouraged by ideas that seem unlikely or impractical, so they just stop thinking about them. This quote urges you to stretch for those crazy ridiculous dreams. In fact, it says your wishes should scare you, and if they don’t, you’re not dreaming the right kind of dreams.

When I imagined doing an internship at Shepherds, I was a little frightened. I’d never been away from home before. I knew very few people in the area. I had no idea what church I would go to or if I would make friends. Who would be my roommate? What kind of work would I be doing? Most importantly, would I regret my decision to come?

There was no way I could discover the answers to these questions unless I just went for it. I needed to reach for my dream, and if I made it, then I would find all those answers I was looking for.

What about you? Are you dreaming big right now? Do your dreams include Shepherds College? Maybe your son, daughter, student, relative, or friend has intellectual disabilities. Are they discouraged? Have their wishes been crushed, broken, discarded?

Shepherds College can reshape those dreams, repair them and make them brand-new. It might be a little scary at first to imagine trying something so different and new, but that’s the beauty of big dreams. They’re supposed to frighten and excite you all at the same time. If you get past that fear and trust God with your big dreams, incredible things can happen.

Shepherds College can help students dream again – big, beautiful, fantastic dreams. And these dreams can come true.

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

Friday's Top Five: What We're Missing

For most people, summer is a time of fun and excitement, rest and relaxation. It’s the season we look forward to all year long. But for those of us still at Shepherds College, summer can be sort of a drag.

With the students and many of the teachers away on their summer break, things can get a little boring around here. It’s a lot quieter. There’s not near as much activity going on. And we’re all just waiting for school to start up again.

I’m sure if you asked most of the students, they would say they are enjoying their break way too much to think about school. But whether they admit it or not, I’m sure they’re starting to get at least a little bit excited about the new school year.

The students may not be missing us quite yet, but we sure are missing them. Here are some of the things we miss about our Shepherds College students:

1. Their energy.

If you were a visitor at Shepherds College and you happened to be walking down the hallways in between class periods, you would understand exactly what we’re talking about when we say energy. Maybe the students are nervous about an upcoming test. Maybe they’re releasing all the wiggles pent up during class. Maybe they’re just excited about all that they are learning. Whatever it is, there is definitely a high level of energy in our hallways when the students are around. It makes you excited to hear the chatter and laughter and to see the activity and smiles. It will energize you, too!

The “Move to the Groove” program encourages our students to have fun while being physically active and also really increases the energy level on campus. It’s usually held in the gymnasium, and students can exercise by shooting hoops, riding the stationary bikes, walking laps, or doing aerobics. Even some of the Shepherds residents get involved. Mrs. Harvey says that she can feel the happy energy when the students’ participate and it gives her a boost to get past the after-lunch slump.

2. The things they say.

Nicole

You never know what our students are going to say, and that’s what makes life with them so interesting. From their sweet words of kindness and encouragement to their hilarious jokes, the students always have something intriguing to talk about. And they love to talk!

 

Miranda

When I observed a personal development class, students were giving speeches as part of their final. The “audience” was supposed to give the speaker critiques on their speech by using the “sandwich” method: positive comment, something to improve on, positive comment. Nicole only gave positive comments. She could never find something for her classmates to work on. She was quite the encourager. And for some reason, Miranda has taken to teasing me with the nickname “troublemaker.” I haven’t the slightest idea what that’s about! Oh, they make me smile.

3. Their hugs.

Many of our students are gifted with the abilities to comfort and encourage. It feels good when they are so excited to see you that their whole face lights up and they hurry to you for a hug. The students have a special way of making you feel important and appreciated. They’re also very perceptive and can tell when people are worried or hurting. The students love to make friends and be a part of the Shepherds family. They love making people feel loved.

4. The stories they share.

Remember when I said our students love to talk? Well, I wasn’t kidding. Our students enjoy asking people questions and finding out more about them, but they also love telling their own stories, too. They like to surprise you or make you laugh, so their storytelling is usually pretty exciting and dramatic. But they are heartfelt stories, too. They are stories that make you smile.

I think the biggest storyteller on campus is Ray. He always has a story to share, and I love hearing his deep, scratchy voice. Ray has told me stories about movies he’s watched, music he listens to, his mom’s birthday, his extended family, memories with the 2012 graduates, his excitement of being a third year student, and just about every plant growing in the greenhouse. This guy loves stories, and he does a great job of telling them, too. I miss that.

Ray

5. Their smiles.

I could write words upon words about the students’ precious smiles and what they mean to us at Shepherds College, but why make you read when I can show you instead?

Need I say more?

So, while our students enjoy a break from their studies, we eagerly anticipate the coming school year because oh, how we miss those students!

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