THE IMPACTOF AN ONU ADVOCATE
A
s a high school math teacher, Abby Fischer ’19 facilitates meaningful connections with her students on a daily basis.
14
Forming those relationships has laid the foundation for Abby to share about her collegiate experiences and to recommend her students to consider furthering their education following high school graduation. Abby knew about Olivet through her older sister who transferred to the University after a few years at Kankakee Community College. When Abby sat in on a chapel service during a campus visit, she had a defining moment of purpose. “I felt so overwhelmed and thought, ‘Yes, this is where I want to be,’” she remembers. At Olivet, Abby took full advantage of opportunities to expand her worldview while preparing for a career in education. She was actively involved in Olivet’s Student Education Association chapter and she travelled to South Africa and Costa Rica to collaborate with local school groups to teach English and address universal social issues like bullying and building self-confidence. Now, photos and flags from the countries she visited on volunteer trips decorate the walls of her classroom and
provide conversation starters with her students. “I love connecting stories with students to remind them that they are not alone. No matter where we are, we all have hurts and experience life similarly,” Abby says. Each semester, Abby gives her students the option to fill out an ONU interest form in exchange for a free t-shirt. Encouraging her students to think about their post-high school plans sparks conversations about their hopes and dreams for the future. So many of her students have filled out the form that Abby has received her own set of Olivet swag. “I love Olivet and I love sharing my stories,” she reflects. “I chose to study education to change the stereotypes about learning within a critical age group – and to hopefully make some sort of an impact. When students hear about someone’s positive, real experience, they start to see the possibility for themselves.” ■
JOIN THE NETWORK OF ONU ADVOCATES by speaking about Olivet in your workplaces, classrooms, neighborhoods and churches to help recruit and support students whose lives will be transformed by the Olivet experience. As an ONU Advocate, you can use your words, actions and resources to create an eternal impact in the lives of future Olivet students — and in the lives of all they go on to touch.
▲ Abby
graduated from Olivet with a degree in secondary math education with a middle school endorsement. Following graduation, she accepted a job at Iroquois West High School, teaching geometry, statistics and technical math.
OLIVET ADVOCATES: ● Encourage high school students to schedule a visit, and help make arrangements to come to campus. ● Recommend students for our admissions staff to contact. ● Connect Olivet students with local job and internships opportunities through the career portal. ● Make a financial contribution to continue furthering the mission of “Education With a Christian Purpose.” ● Promote upcoming Olivet events and programs through the local church and community. ● Share their copy of Olivet The Magazine with someone in their circle of influence.
Visit olivet.edu/advocate for more information ANNUAL REPORT 2020
Abby Fischer
