Hometown: Goshen, IN

Major: History

I got involved with Northfield Reads and Counts spring term of my sophomore year.  I was looking for a campus job and this seemed like an excellent way to do work-study and contribute to the community, while doing something completely out of the routine of Carleton life. 

The teachers that I have worked with have been great.  When I started I had little idea of what the teachers would expect of me and was rather nervous, but they have always been understanding.  The longer that I am with each class, I begin to understand what's expected of me and how I can help the teacher run the class.  Generally the teacher lets me know who she wants me to work with and what to do, but in a lot of situations I pick up where I should be or what example to set for the students, without the teacher's input. 

In terms of general philosophy I try to push the good students as far as possible, so that they aren't content with getting A's, but get excited about learning on their own.  With the students that struggle, then, I try to make learning as exciting as possible and illustrate why it is important. I've learned that it is a lot of fun to work with kids and that they aren't as scary as I thought they were.  I generally leave the school in a much better mood than when I came in.  It has also helped me to understand that I need to learn how to be a better authority figure when I'm in that position.