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.

Herbert Brown III: Internship Experience and the Colorado Scenery

I am currently interning at the St. Francis Center and it has been a perfect fit after the first couple of weeks. I am still learning a lot but I can also say that I have adjusted just fine in this short period. I am at two different sites during the week, and those are the day shelter and employment center. At the day shelter, I assist guests and clients with their mail, storage, and other needs they may have. At the employment center, I have been working with homeless people and people who are ex-offenders with job search, applications, and resumes. The guests and clients have responded to me in a positive manner and I am looking forward to working with them as they become self-sufficient and achieve stability. Interning at St. Francis Center has made me more appreciative of the blessings that I have received. I think that is why I want to potentially work with homeless people after college. I believe that the goal is to help people reach that stability that has eluded them for periods of time.

I was born and raised on the west side of Chicago, and you would think that the city life is almost the same no matter what. Denver is probably one of the more unique places to live and that is because of the scenery. I was here back in 2015 for my beginning field placement during May term. I was nervous because I was in a new place and I was alone. This was the farthest that I had been away from home. Once I got moved in and adjusted to my apartment, I decided to walk around to get a feel for the area. Immediately, I fell in love with the city and it was because of the mountains in the distance. I was in awe simply because I had never seen them in person. I told myself that I would be back soon and I was going to go up to Rocky Mountains. I would be able to achieve that goal when my classmates and I traveled to Leadville. This was one of the rare occurrences where I felt like a tourist because of the sight-seeing that I did while I was there. Being up in the mountains allowed me to feel at peace and do some self-reflection. The best part about being there is the silence, with the exception of the sounds of nature. It is definitely the setting for clearing your head, making a huge life decision, or simply being more in tune with a spiritual being. Going up there made me appreciate the Wartburg West program even more than before. I probably wouldn’t have had this experience this early in my life without Wartburg West. I plan to go back up to the mountains soon and I might even climb one. Coming back to Denver has helped me become more open minded in terms of doing things outside of my comfort zone. After spending time in the Rocky Mountains, my interest in nature related activities have increased. I want to be able to create memories here that cannot be replicated elsewhere and that will last a lifetime.

Kennedy Haut: Almost Two Weeks In and Loving Every Minute

Well, I’ve officially been in Denver for 13 days now and each and every one of those days has been filled with new adventures. I’ve experienced so many things I couldn’t have imagined before beginning this experience. I piled into a tiny car with three of my family members and the majority of my possessions and made the 12-hour journey to Denver. I attended the MLK Jr. Marade at City Park in Denver. I have even become friends with the students from Luther who are also living in the Wartburg West building (hard to imagine, I know). While I am thankful to have the opportunity to try new and exciting things, I also feel I have had little time to reflect on my experiences. So, hey! Why not start now in this blog post.

For anyone who doesn’t know me, My name is Kennedy Haut and I’m from Plainfield, Iowa. I would be lying to you if I said coming to Denver for the semester didn’t make me a little nervous. Coming from a town with the population of 419 people, you can imagine moving to Denver was a bit of an adjustment. I am a social work major with a minor in leadership and plan to attend graduate school after I graduate from Wartburg in May. I am completing my practicum at Mount Saint Vincent Home, doing school social work with children who have been abused, neglected, traumatized or have mental illness. The kids at Mount Saint Vincent have already found a special place in my heart. Although my placement challenges me every day, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve learned more about the development of a child and how trauma can affect the brain than I ever could have in a classroom. Even now, I feel I have grown leaps and bounds as a social worker and person, and I’m so excited to see what experience and knowledge I’ve gained by the end of the semester.

As for living in the city, I’m not surprised by how much I like it. I enjoy having new experiences and always have an open mind when trying new things.  Denver has so much to offer and I will be lucky to have experienced a fraction of it once my time here is through. I have made a “Denver Bucket List” in order to make sure I make the most of my time in Colorado. My list includes things like attending a concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheater, cheering on the Rockies at Coors Stadium, and observing the snow-sculpting contest in Breckenridge. As I look forward to the rest of my time here in Denver, I can’t help thinking of how grateful I am to be a Knight. It’s opportunities like these that reassure me I chose the right school and have truly found what my vocation is.

Ian Coon on an Expanded World View and Experiential Learning

Sure, I read Allegory of the Cave and studied the philosophy of Plato. I, both joyfully and begrudgingly, completed courses not in my specific major. And yes, I even engage in discussion with students who have differing views than my own.

Yet, I NOW find it hard to claim that I received a liberal education without having an experience like I did at Wartburg West. Until this fall all of these ingredients that build a liberal education – an opening world view and thirst for knowledge – have been fulfilled by reading and studying in a traditional classroom. While it’s no surprise to anyone that higher education can be a slow moving process not many schools are taking steps to try and innovate how students are learning. The exception: Wartburg.

For 32 years Wartburg has been thinking outside of the box and taking an unconventional and equitable approach to innovating liberal learning.

While at Wartburg West I took courses about the intersectionalities of art and diversity, the religious traditions of immigrant communities, and the convergence points of sustainable cities and gained work experience at an internship related to my core major. All of these courses were experiential based and hands on. Rather than doing traditional readings, lectures and notes in the classroom, we did that learning on our own as preparation for guest speakers and site visits meeting with professionals.

We met with a trans activist about her experience in coming out, heard from a Buddhist monk about immigrating to the United States decades ago, and listened to advocates for a growing homeless population in Denver and so much more.

All of the social problems and topics we learned about are real. There are faces that should and can be connected to our knowledge. I know that this empathetic connection to our coursework made the information much more retainable and meaningful than traditional schooling.

I have friends at prestigious universities across the nation – UNC Chapel Hill, Georgetown, American, Columbia, San Jose State – that have not had these opportunities afforded to them, and definitely not at the size and location of Wartburg College.

This past summer I really worried about not being able to compete in the PR job market in a large city after graduating. I pondered needing to transfer to a large university or school in a city in order to be prepared for life after college. Spending a semester in Denver helped me to value the intimacy of relationships that are nurtured at Wartburg and the challenging hands-on content delivered in programs across campus.

My semester ‘out west’ enlightened me to see an expanded world view and understand the lifestyles and beliefs of those unlike myself.

I’d urge anyone interested in liberal learning in a hands-on environment to apply for the program!

Megan Stephenson: The Small-Town Girl Living in the Big City World

Milford, Iowa, has a population of 3,055. Arnolds Park, Iowa, has a population of 1,256. Okoboji, Iowa, has a population of 830. These three towns, which make their home in the Northwest corner of the state, were my childhood playground. From the lakes, amusement park and adventure in Okoboji to the safe, quiet living in Milford, I never had a reason to complain. But there are imperfections in every place.

Denver, Colorado, has a population of 682,545. This city, which has served as my home, community, and lab for the past three months, is one of many wonders. But there are imperfections in every place.

My time spent in Denver has taught me a lot about myself and what it means to come from a small, rural town like mine. There are certainly many differences between rural Iowa and urban Denver, but it was surprising for me to find that there are some similarities, too. I know that there are people on Wartburg’s campus who might share a story similar to mine—they grew up in a small, rural town and have not had much experience in an ultra-urban environment. I am here to tell about my own experiences in Denver, and how through my time here I have been able to grow closer to my roots than ever before.

There is no doubt that I was nervous about coming to live in the city, and when I got here I questioned what I got myself into. Being the person I am, though, I accepted the challenge and did my best to get acclimated to the city life as quickly as possible. The biggest hoops I had to jump through were ones that are present in many urban environments: the presence of a homeless population, not always encountering friendly faces, and traffic and parking (oh, the parking). It turns out that these factors were what intimidated me the most upon arrival. It also turns out that I had no reason to be intimidated. 

As someone who had only encountered homelessness a handful of times, I was thrown into an environment where homeless is very prominent. Something important to note, though, is that when living in a city, homeless people are neighbors to those with homes and apartments. They sleep nearby, eat nearby, and socialize nearby. I had the opportunity to work with Denver Homeless Out Loud over the past couple of months. This organization is very much run by homeless for homeless, and they work to give the homeless population in Denver a voice to the public through education panels, social media, and an in-house publication. My work with Denver Homeless Out Loud opened my eyes to a much larger issue—there are stereotypes surrounding homelessness that simply are not true. Unfortunately, I played into those stereotypes when I first arrived. Overall, the homeless population in Denver is very friendly, and even if they are not, they do not seem to bother people very much. 

One thing that is great about living in a small town and even attending a small college campus is the fact that it can be difficult not to find a friendly, welcoming face. I would say from my own experience of growing up in a small town, everybody knows everybody. Sometimes this can be a negative thing, but I think that, for the most part, this leads to a strong sense of community. It is that small-town appeal, as I like to call it. Denver might be a big city, but the sense of community I have found in this temporary adventure is truly incredible. Sure, I rarely encounter the same face twice, but I have found many opportunities to get involved and meet new people, whether that be attending free events, going to community gatherings, and more. The list could go on and on if I am talking about Denver. There are athletics clubs, yoga classes, dance groups, art groups, theatre groups, writing workshops, and tons of free events. Searching for a community in Denver might be a little bit different than automatically having one in a small town, but I think that is what makes it special. In a city, anyone has the opportunity to meet and organize with anyone.

Before I came to Denver, I would avoid having to parallel park anywhere I went. Now, many people might have this basic skill, but I was simply not a member of that population before I came to Denver. Most of the time, I could get away with my inability to park a car on the side of the street because I rarely had to. Open, free, available parking lots are common in rural towns. However, after about two weeks of living in one of the fullest, busiest residential areas in Denver, I realized that there was no way I would be able to get away with not having to parallel park anymore. It might seem silly to write about my journey to learning how to parallel park, (which I can successfully do now, by the way) but I think this is one of the bigger surprises that comes with city life. Becoming a defensive driver and learning how city street-parking works is a skill I can now apply to any city adventure I decide to take in my lifetime.

My time in Denver has made me realize that wherever I am, I can always connect my experiences back to my Iowa roots. This adventure has made me appreciate the things I have back home more than I ever have before, but it has also taught me that going outside of my own comfort zone can be extremely rewarding. I encourage everyone to explore places and communities across the board—thrive in the big cities and find comfort in the small towns. It will be worth it.