Leave it to the students...

This past week I was surprised to overhear a few colleagues talking about the student populations in a negative light. 

While I recognize students (and all of us for that matter) have a lot of growing, learning, and progressing to do, the "student" problem is one of my personal pet peeves. 

But, then again, my situation as a near-peer is not something that many have the opportunity to experience. In fact, they will likely never understand. 

Either way, as a words person, I am grateful for and should know that when it doubt, I should leave it to my students. 

Section 001

On the first day of my job in 2010, a colleague approached me and asked if I would team teach a section of Student Development 117, Career Exploration. Without really knowing what it entailed, I said yes. It was a good experience, and I've done it twice since then... 

But, it wasn't until this last semester that I developed a love of teaching and saw parts of my patriarchal blessing come to fruition.

This semester I taught Section 001 of Student Development 317R, Career Strategies at BYU and I. loved. it. 

But it wasn't necessarily the subject matter or lectures that helped me develop this love. It was these incredible students. 

The best group of students on BYU campus.
(Front Row, Left to Right: Chase, Carlee, Olivia, Amorrette, Kirsten, Anne, Emily D., Honivah, Brindy, Kathy, Ben, Rhiannon, Lyndsey, Emily B., Amelia, Kylie)(Back Row, Left to Right: Nate, Meredith, Kalisha, Whitney, Kendall, Cameron, Cody, Lauren, Ethan, Guissepe, Mitch, Spencer, Easton, Laura, Janea, Sabrina, Stephanie, Joe, Sarah, Stefani)

It's quite a unique experience to be a near peer to your students; once you've gained their trust and respect it becomes more like a learning friendship than a teacher-student relationship. 

To be frankly honest, I was so nervous at the beginning of the semester, but as I got to know these students it became one of the best parts of my week where we discussed some of the keys to professional success. 

We started each class with a question of the day led by a student. We talked about our dream cars, where we'd been around the world, what our dream jobs are, and which store (or we hoped) described us. 

It was so much fun. 

But, as the semester came to an end, I couldn't help but feel a deep, deep love for these students. My students. 

As their final, each student was required to put together some kind of presentation. It could be a simple PowerPoint, a Poem, or a Song; I just wanted to know what they had learned during the semester. 

I was surprised that every. single. student. gave a unique presentation catered to their own preferences, talents, and styles. Songs (on the piano and guitar), poems, movies, PowerPoints and everything in between with corky lyrics, references to our questions of the day and more. 

I was also surprised at how emotional I was as I realized that I may have touched these students in some small way and that Heavenly Father had given me the opportunity to make a difference in these students' lives. But, I was even more surprised as I saw that these students will be the future leadership of our society. 

Since the end of the semester I have received multiple thank-you cards and e-mails expressing gratitude "for the most practical class I've ever taken" and thoughts about how my class is the class that students have missed most since the semester ended.

I even had one amazing student bring me a gift: an official LinkedIn t-shirt. How awesome. (And yes, call me nerd. I immediately changed into it.)

Needless to say, these students changed me and I am ever grateful to them, thank you. 

First-Day Fame!

I love BYU. 

Each year, the University Photographers take an official "First Day of Class" photo. 

This year, I happened to be in it! Definitely my five seconds of fame. 

The neat thing is I was headed to teach my very first class [by myself--I've team taught before]. 

Did I mention I love BYU!?

Everything at Once

A few months ago, my cousin called me up and asked if I would visit the ward as a guest teacher. She knew I was a Career Counselor at BYU, and asked if I would take the lesson on choosing a vocation.

Sure; how fun!

The closer the day got, the more nervous I became.

Then, I cracked the manual.

Despite the fact that I counsel many a student each week, I was unprepared for how I would handle this lesson and the quotes I found.

At first, I became angry. Ugh. Another "you should be a homemaker" lesson?

Then frustrated. These quotes were given in 1975, things have change a lot since then. Really?

Then I realized that a lot has changed since 1975. Then I remembered.

I remembered the feelings that I had when I knew during my first interview after graduate school that I would get the job, move across the country, and have to leave my baby. I've never told anyone this, but when I turned off the television (it was a conference interview), I sat alone in the dimly-lit room with my two-week old baby and cried.

The second experience I remembered was when working in my first job after graduate school someone said to me, "Mormon girls just drop out of school to have babies." This comment was very offensive to me, especially considering I was the antithesis.

When I remembered these stories, I knew that teaching the lesson would be okay. That despite the fact that teaching the religious aspect to choosing a vocation would be a challenge, I was up for it.

When the lesson time finally came, I was surprised at how easily I was able to speak to the subject matter. I started by sharing a personal story: when I was in graduate school, an old man, a member of our faith, said to me regarding my decision to pursue a graduate education, "oh, is that going to make you a better wife and mother?"

Yes, as a matter of fact, it will. It did. It has.

As I taught the lesson we talked about what vocations were and why it was important to choose one. We talked about developing talents, recognizing and strengthening abilities, and going to the Lord in prayer.

How neat is that!? We can seek guidance as we make future decisions. About everything!

I also mentioned what my aunt had told me during college, "Women can have everything, they just can't have everything at the same time."

It's true. As a working mom, it's what made the lesson gel for me.

A teacher in the class, who happens to be a friend and another working mom said, "in our society today women should anticipate, at some point in their lives, to work and provide for their families."

It was so perfect. I secretly wish I'd thought of it myself. She handled it so elegantly.

Women have so many roles; we are full-time moms, full-time employees, teachers, students, wives, photographers, hair stylists, etc. etc. etc. Yet, we can't be all of those things at the same time.

After giving the lesson, I thought about what I had learned from the experience.

I recounted the anger, the frustration, and then realized that I too must realize, women can have everything, they just can't have everything at the same time.

Here's to vocations whether great or small; paid or unpaid; awarded or overlooked.