(Semi)Wordless Wednesday

If you’re engaged in social media, and since you’re reading this blog there’s a good chance you are, you may be familiar with Facebook’s Wordless Wednesdays. This is a day when some individuals and organizations decide to post a picture that “says it all” without using any words.

Now, that’s all well and good, but I’m a writer who loves to read. I like words, so Wordless Wednesdays are not really my cup of tea.

But every once in a while, I come across a picture that really speaks to me and I’ve decided that, rather than simply posting it in the ‘Stroll around Campus’ photo album on facebook and risk it getting hidden with all the other photos, I would highlight it in an occasional (Semi)Wordless Wednesday post for you to enjoy as well. It won’t always be the clearest picture, but I hope it will inspire emotions and thoughts that will help you understand the story of Shepherds College. That’s the “wordless” part. 

Sometimes the “semi” part will come from you. I want to hear the word or phrase that came to mind when you first saw the picture. It will help feed my word-loving soul. Please post your thoughts in either the blog or facebook comments.

Sometimes, the “semi” part will come from me if I feel the picture needs to be put into context. 

I saw this photo op from down the hallway and rushed up to it praying the whole way, “God, please don’t let them move. Keep them still, don’t let them move.” They didn’t move.

Here is today’s picture:

 

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

The Road to Success

The hope of all the faculty and staff of Shepherds College is that each student who goes through our program reaches his or her fullest potential as a purposefully created human being.

How do we help the students get to that point?

It may mean challenging a student academically, or pushing him in Special Olympics, or placing him in social situations that could take him out of his comfort zone.

It could mean repeated reminders about chores, reassuring Bible verses written out on notebook covers, unwanted (by students and advisors!) disciplinary actions, or awards during Time to Shine.

It may mean that a day at Shepherds College starts with tears of frustration and ends with high fives and fist bumps. 

It means seeing and believing in each student’s God-given abilities and encouraging every smidgen of talent, skill and strength out of her through instruction, repetition, reinforcement, sensitivity, and love until the student can see and believe in her abilities on her own.

It means a lot of hard work, diligence, courage and faith.

It also means watching each student don a gray cap and gown on graduation day and walk out the doors of the school to a life of hope and possibility – a meaningful job? A closer relationship to God? An apartment shared with a friend? Volunteer work? Marriage? New skills? A greater sense of responsibility?

Whatever it looks like - this “fullest potential” - it’s the triumphant result of a partnership between the student, his parents, Shepherds College and God.

It is success.

The current students of Shepherds College know what it takes to get to this point – they are walking that path right now - and they want to share what they’ve learned with the incoming Class of 2017:

“Do your homework! Doing your homework helps you grow and learn. If you don’t do your homework, teachers will be very unhappy and your grades will go down. If you are having complications with your homework, do not hesitate to ask them. They are here to help you in any way they can.”  ~ Sarah

“Focus on God and school work. Read God’s Word and put it into action. These will be the best three years of your life at Shepherds College, but you have to make them your best.” ~ Anthony

“Know the teachers and res life staff are there for you when you need them.” ~ Crystal

“Have a great time at Shepherds College and also make great friendships. You will have homework, but nothing that will overwhelm you. Take your final exams. You will get your own locker to keep your books and other stuff in there as well.” ~ Kathryn

“Do not be nervous and always be honest. Have fun within reason. Enjoy your time at Shepherds College. It’s only three years. Make an impact on people in your college community. Be a light to people around you for Jesus calls us who are Christians to be ambassadors of Christ. Even in the tough times, it’s important to be on your guard. Guard your heart and your words that you speak to others because words that speak edifying things bring up your peers. I would like to wish all the first-years luck for the next year. May God bless you in everything that you do and say.” ~ Wade

“Learn your strengths. Shepherds College is a very good school.” ~ Ryan

“Do not use technology after 9pm. If you use technology after 9pm, you will be tired.” ~ Andrew

“Follow the rules without complaint.” ~ Jonathan

“If you feel frustrated with the other students, find staff and never fight. Also, if you want to join any of the clubs, don’t be shy. Join the club.” ~ Joey

“Do good in school. Don’t be lazy. Work hard, study, start strong, finish strong. Remember to please God in all you do. Stay encouraged.” ~ Willetta

“I would tell you that to be successful you better be ready to work hard.” ~ Nathan

“Keep learning in class. Ask questions to the people around you.” ~ Nick

“I would say do your homework and work hard in everything you do.” ~ Ellie

“Respect the staff and students.” ~ Matt

“Responsibility. When you come to Shepherds College, you want to learn to be on your own and independent.” ~ Isaac

“Make new friends. Have fun. Learn new things.” ~ Geovanni

“There are sports that you can be on. Work hard and do your best. Have fun!” ~ Julian

“Being successful at Shepherds College is to be a great student. Be here. Make it your best time.” ~ Christi

“Make a ton of great friends and teachers. Do a ton of activities and you will have a ton of fun at college.” ~ Grant

“Try not to get involved with the students of the opposite gender. They are just trouble and draining. And don’t gossip. Also, if you have a problem with another student, the staff won’t fix it for you. Instead, they will help you solve it yourself because they are training you for life.” ~ Suzanne

“Just be yourself, trust in the Lord and He will guide you to greatness.” ~ Tommy

“Do some hard work to earn your stay.” ~ Kirsten

“Be diligent in homework, chores, etc. Be respectful of staff and others. Learn and have fun.” ~ Krista

“Listen to staff and teachers. The rules are important to protect you from bad mistakes.” ~ Philip

“Do not make the same mistakes that I did in the past. Listen to me because I will be a good leader and give good advice and be a good example for the new students.” ~ David

“Just be yourself, study hard, relax, don’t get stressed and just have fun.” ~ Cherokee

“Focus on the growth of yourself, and enjoy your time as a first-year because it will go by fast.” ~ Ashley

“Follow the school policies, don’t be disrespectful, and have fun.” ~ Torrey

“Train hard for a job.” ~ Miranda

“Plan to be faithful to do your school work.” ~ Bethany

“Read the blog. There is a lot of good stuff on there to help you learn about the college. You can comment on it. Keep looking to the future. You have a whole new world ahead of you. Have fun!” ~ Dallas

“Make the right choices and you will not get into trouble or get demerits.” ~ Donovan

“Don’t be scared. There is nothing to be afraid of. When I was a first-year, I didn’t know anyone, but I made friends quickly. When you are a third-year, you will have a ton of friends.” ~ Daniela

“You should follow the rules. If you follow the rules you will be able to do more things like being able to do a lot of the activities.” ~ Nikki

 “Follow the rules. Be respectful of staff and other students. Meet different people in other dorm rooms.” ~ Christian

“Have a fun time. Learn to be friendly and open-minded to the new ideas you learn at Shepherds College.” ~ Sean

“Learn your Bible verses, memorize them and do a good job with your cleaning chores.” ~ Joshua

“As long as you keep up with your chores, get homework done, follow the rules and listen to staff, you will do just fine.” ~ Katy

“Do everything to the best of your ability. The staff at Shepherds College will help you grow more independent after college.” ~ Olya

“Stay focused and stay faithful to yourself. Stay strong and never give up in any circumstance. Honor God, and He will give you an amazing journey of a life.” ~ Micah

So there you have it – great advice for a successful three years at Shepherds College and a future filled with the fullest potential.

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

Have You Heard?

There’s a rumor going around. Have you heard? 

Heads are bowing together, lips are moving, nods and knowing looking are being exchanged as this bit of news is shared – 

“Shepherds College only hires THE BEST people…”

Normally, I run screaming from rumors, but I have to stand firm and tell you, this one is absolutely true!

The college can’t take too much credit though. In all honesty, God only brings us THE BEST people so our pickins’ are… well, pretty amazing to begin with. It’s obvious He has big plans for the future of Shepherds College when the quality of the people populating the offices, classrooms, dorms and hallways is observed.

Are you ready to meet the latest of the greatest faculty members God has called to join our team? 

Here’s Cassie Comerford, Lead Instructor of Culinary Arts. She did such a complete and charming job of answering my questions, I’m going to let her tell her own story in today’s blog:

Shepherds College: “Did you always want to be a chef? Can you pinpoint when and why this desire started?”

Chef Cassie: “Actually, no. Being a chef never was in the picture. I come from a large, Polish family, and cooking – good cooking – is just what you did for your family. I had great teachers – my mom, my grandmothers and all the Polish ladies at my church. Everything was homemade. I didn’t know Polish sausage could be purchased at a store. I only knew how to make it at home. 

My short story? I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Architecture from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. While working in Chicago, I was pursuing my Master’s degree in Architecture and kept walking past this culinary school. I saw some interesting classes and signed up for a 6-week class. I thoroughly enjoyed it, was smitten and the rest is history.

Since earning my Culinary Arts degree from Kendall Collage, I’ve had the pleasure of working in fine dining rooms, private clubs, small boutique bakeries, large production bakeries, vegetarian and vegan restaurants, as well as private consulting on a few start-up cafes creating recipes, developing menus and running a Raw Food Kitchen in Puerto Rico.”

Shepherds College: “You’ve had such diverse experiences in the field! What would you say are your ‘specialties?’”

Chef Cassie: “Beside Polish cuisine? Vegetarian and vegan, raw foods, and gluten-free baking.”

Shepherds College: “What is the most creative meal you’ve ever cooked for anyone?”

Chef Cassie: It was a Raw Vegan Lasagna, prepared for, and shot on location in Milwaukee for Good Food America, featuring Nathan Lyon, an Emmy nominated chef on the Veria Living network.  It consisted of zucchini and yellow squash ‘noodles,’ with walnut ‘meat’ filling, macadamia nut ‘ricotta cheese,’ red bell and sun-dried tomato marinara sauce and parsley-basil pesto, topped with micro greens and pine nuts. It was so much fun and, I hope I’m not giving away a TV secret, but it took about over four hours to shoot that four minute episode.

Shepherds College: “Wow! You sound very health conscious. What are your thoughts on the influence food has on health?”

Chef Cassie: “That is a biggie. It is so important.

I worked for a couple of years in Puerto Rico at a Raw Food Health Institute. I saw people walking (or barely walking due to inflammation, arthritis, etc…) into the program. After only a few short weeks of letting go of the processed foods and sugary sodas common in the Standard American Diet (SAD), I saw these people feeling so much better! By eating whole, fresh, clean foods, toxins were released from their bodies, and they were now walking upright with a spring in their steps.” 

Shepherds College: “Do you already have plans for bringing something new to the Culinary Arts Program?”

Chef Cassie: “My plans are to continue the great job that has already been done, especially continual training of the students in proper and safe knife skill techniques. I’d like to add additional knowledge in the areas of nutrition, healthy cuisine, vegetarian and vegan, how to do delicious and healthy food substitutions, along with some background in ‘Raw Vegan’ cuisine and, of course, gluten-free baking.”

Shepherds College: “I have to ask – with your extensive cooking and travel experiences, what is the craziest thing you have ever eaten?”

Chef Cassie: “A double-dip cone of Salted Cod and Avocado Ice Cream in Puerto Rico.”

 

Shepherds College: “…Oh…um… yum? 

Actually, with your adventurous spirit, love of good food and the desire to improve the lives of people through high quality, nutritious meals, we know the Culinary Arts students are going to LOVE you… just nix the dried fish ice cream.

Chef Cassie: “My hope is that the students will see my passion for teaching the culinary arts, my heart’s desire to help them learn, and that cooking and baking can be so much fun and rewarding.”

Shepherds College: “Last question, and then I’ll let you get on with your lesson plans – how does your faith influence your work?”

Chef Cassie: “I pray that I am the hands and the feet of the Lord, and that my teaching blesses each and every student.”

 


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