Alyssa Christopher on Interacting with Students and the Importance of Education

Wartburg West has far exceeded my expectations in all aspects of the experience. I am a fourth year Elementary Education major, with a middle school math and science endorsement, as well as reading endorsement. This semester, I am completing my student teaching placement at Place Bridge Academy. Denver, Colorado has already provided me with numerous opportunities to grow, and I look forward to the remainder of my time here for any additional experiences that the city has to offer.

Currently, I am placed in a sixth grade science classroom at Place Bridge Academy. This is a refugee school of 1000 students, consisting of students from 60 different countries and speaking over 40 languages. Tarena Zake and her sixth grade science class have blown me away. After four weeks I was allowed the opportunity to completely take over her classroom, which is giving me a fulfilling experience as a future educator. The students have embraced learning from me while also giving me the opportunity to learn from them. They offer me an experience in which I can learn about other cultures, perspectives, and how to educate students that come from more diverse backgrounds.

Tarena has been a pivotal point in my experience at Place Bridge Academy. Each day we sit down to talk about my progress in the classroom, considering where I started and where I need to continue to grow. I have never had someone in my professional life dedicate as much of the personal time as Tarena has dedicated to me. Not only am I learning about educating students, but I am learning about the politics of school, the importance of self-care, and the value that an educator can have on the student, no matter what their age.

Along with the relationships with my students and Tarena, I have had the opportunity to build relationships with other teachers and staff. Each week, I have the opportunity to participate in school wide professional development. Often this includes sessions that fellow teachers have requested, or instruction that the district of Denver Public Schools requires. On Tuesdays, I also join the Sixth Grade Team for meetings, in which we discuss students of concern and how we can all make their educational experience better. The opportunities that Place Bridge Academy have provided me have already impacted the type of teacher that I will be, and in my last few weeks, I hope to leave as lasting of an impact on the school as they have on me.

With such an excellent experience in my placement, it is not hard to believe that my overall experience in Denver, Colorado has been amazing. The diversity, accessibility, and scenery draw me to city life, despite my experience growing up in a small town. Currently, I have been given many opportunities through the Wartburg West Urban Lifestyles course, including our retreat to Leadville, MLK Day Marade, and the Mosaic. Outside of these experiences, I have also gone to Breckenridge for the National Ice Sculpting Competition, as well as saw the Swon Brothers perform at The Grizzly Rose.

Our experience at the Mosaic has had the biggest impact on my experience outside of my placement at Place Bridge Academy. The Mosaic are centered around interfaith dialog. We were given the opportunity to talk with individuals who, in one way or another, were listed as terrorists in the country of Turkey. I had the opportunity to speak with three women who were put on the list, not for endangering others or conspiracy, but for being involved with education. As a future educator, this infuriates and saddens me. I have spent my life learning, and my adult life learning how to educate others. Education is not the problem, but it is very much the solution.

As I round out my experience at Wartburg West, I am reminded of how important education is. My love of education has never been thwarted by those who deemed it less important. On the contrary, this has only reassured me that I am in the correct profession. All people deserve access to education. All people deserve a brighter future than the one that they are born with. My passion for education has been challenged and strengthened during my time at Wartburg West, and I look forward to using this new perspective in my future classroom.

Andrea Leisinger: "Great things never come from comfort zones"

It was February of my junior year and I had put off the Wartburg West application for quite some time. For those of you who know me, know that I am very family oriented. Every chance I have, I spend it with my family. So, I kept putting the application off because I didn’t want to leave Wartburg, family, friends, and everything I knew, behind, for four months. About a week before the deadline, my parents and I were talking about all the opportunities and connections that I would have if I applied, so I did it. I applied.

The first semester of my senior year flew by and suddenly it was Christmas break and I was packing up my belongings to move 12 hours away. The weeks leading up to my departure were bittersweet. I had never lived more than 15 minutes away from home before, so to say I was a little nervous was an understatement. It was January 2, 2018 and while my dad was packing up the rental car, I was inside balling my eyes out saying goodbye to my golden retriever pup, Murphy (I know, pathetic, right?). I then hugged my mom and my brother, told them I’d see them in a couple months, and we left. The trip was long, especially when we drove through Nebraska, but I kept telling myself, “great things never come from comfort zones."

Fast forward to now, February 3, 2018. I’m sitting in my apartment writing my first blog post, thanking myself that I took that step outside my comfort zone and applied to Wartburg West. I started my senior social work placement at Mount Saint Vincent (MSV) on January 5th and one month into it, I can proudly say that I want to pursue a career in school social work. Every day, I work with kids who have been neglected, traumatized, or abused in some way, and as a result, face serious behavioral and emotional challenges. Although some days are tougher than others, the kids at Mount Saint Vincent have found a special place in my heart and I thank God, every single day for the opportunity to be a light to the kiddos at MSV.

Looking back, I’m so happy that I took the risk and made that step outside of my comfort zone. Sure, it was scary and I had doubts, but if it wasn’t for that step, if it wasn’t for the people who encouraged and supported me, I would have never found my calling. While living in Denver, I have felt lonely, scared, unsure, and have had doubts. But, I’ve also felt a lot of love, kindness, support, and happiness. As a reminder of God’s goodness, I have Psalm 46:5 posted above my bed. God is within her, she will not fall. After reading this, I hope you feel encouraged to take the risk and take that first step outside of your comfort zone because once you do, God will bless you abundantly.

Ariana Gremmels Olson on Denver: A City Full of Opportunities

This past weekend, I traveled to Breckenridge, Colorado to see the amazing snow creations at the International Snow Sculpting Championships with a fellow Wartburg student and two wonderful Wartburg alums. While stuck on I-70 in Saturday ski traffic, one of the alums asked me what my favorite part of Denver has been so far. This was a tough question because I have enjoyed so many aspects of Denver. How was I to choose just one? Honestly, I didn’t. My answer to her difficult question was “the opportunities.”

In the three short weeks I have been in Denver, I have filled my days with so many opportunities to experience Denver and Colorado. From participating in SNOWGA, which is yoga on ice at the downtown ice rink, to downhill skiing for the first time during our weekend in Leadville, to attending the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, Denver has been full of opportunities I would not have otherwise had in Iowa. It’s been a blessing to embrace these opportunities, and I look forward to the future opportunities Denver offers.

As I think about what Denver has already given me, it is hard not to think about all that Wartburg has given me in my four years. Being a senior in my last semester at Wartburg, I have so many fond memories from the last four years. Many of my favorite memories stem from the options and opportunities Wartburg makes available. From going to Nicaragua and New York City for two different May Term classes to studying abroad in Italy for a semester to now living in Denver, CO through Wartburg West, the possibilities Wartburg has given me have allowed me to see the world. These experiences have helped me grow as a student and global citizen.

Looking ahead to the months to come in Denver, I am already planning on engaging in many more opportunities that come my way! Some of these already include plans to attend the Boulder Symphony, cheer on the Denver Nuggets when they play the Golden State Warriors and, of course, more travel. Whatever the opportunities may be, I look forward to experiencing what they have to offer.