Student Spotlight

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Q & A

FEATURING JAZMYNE GRIFFITH, B.S. ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO APPLY FOR THE NANCY LARSON FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP?

I had been applying to scholarships for nearly a year before I was awarded the Nancy Larson Foundation Scholarship. My motivation stemmed from a desire to graduate from college debt free.

WHAT PERSONAL EXPERIENCES HAVE INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A TEACHER?

My mom and my kindergarten teacher have inspired me to become a teacher. I watched their faithfulness, dedication, and love for their students. They made everyone feel special by taking an interest in their lives. I wanted to have the same passion and love for teaching that they exemplified. Since kindergarten, if you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I invariably responded with ‘mommy-teacher.’ I really appreciate the personalized education that I got because I was homeschooled for part of my education. That also inspired me with my own students.

WHAT PERSONAL TRAITS DO YOU POSSESS THAT WILL HELP YOU IN YOUR TEACHING CAREER?

HOW DOES YOUR TRAINING AT LIBERTY UNIVERSITY PREPARE YOU IN BECOMING AN ELEMENTARY TEACHER?

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE AND WHAT WILL YOU TAKE WITH YOU FROM THIS SCHOLARSHIP?

As a teacher, I possess the traits of patience and passion that are necessary to effectively communicate with students. If I am excited about the lesson, my students will be excited as well. Patience is necessary when students just don’t get the material and you have explained it every way you can. Frustration and anger are likely to happen at that point. I am also empathetic and understanding. Each of my students has their own personal life. Sometimes, life just gets in the way of submitting assignments on time. I work with the students and parents to give them enough time to finish their work while still completing the course on time. Sometimes, I extend the deadline for students — especially the ones who work hard to complete their assignments on time. Finally, diligence is an important trait that I possess. The art of teaching is always changing. New ways of doing something old are constantly being discovered. Continuing to stay up to date with practices will help me provide my students with the best education. By implementing these traits, I can treat each student uniquely just like my kindergarten teacher did for me.

My training at Liberty University has given me a greater understanding about teaching well. The greatest takeaways are differentiated instruction and small groups in the classroom. Having a strong biblical worldview is key to being a strong Christian teacher. I am also thankful for the practicum placement which helps give practical application of the material as well as a potential job opportunity.

I am currently on summer break, but I look forward to starting my final semester next month as well as graduating in December! I pray that my practicum placement will lead to a potential job opportunity next year. From this scholarship, I have learned diligence in applying for scholarships even when there are no results. In addition, I have learned to trust God in everything that I do.