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I felt a longing to go back to the days of being challenged and encouraged to connect my profession with my Christian worldview.
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Geneva’s hybrid format of online and in-person classes provided Laura with the perfect balance throughout her coursework. Although the drive was farther than the state school near her home, she only had to drive to Beaver Falls every other week during the academic year, and only a few weeks in the summer. “The hybrid classes are a perfect balance of interaction and convenience for busy professionals,” she says. Because Geneva’s education program has a strong component in reading, Laura has been able to structure her courses to encompass all types of literature and make reading fun. “Dr. Aiken taught us to instill reading aloud to kids,” she says. “We learned that motivation is such a big part of reading. I have seen it make such a big difference. My students now want to hear good stories, and read good stories.” Laura also values the Christ-centered education that Geneva provided her. “The greatest blessing has been my experience with Christian, caring professors and other likeminded colleagues in the program. The education professors are not just teachers at Geneva; they are mentors and friends.” That personal care displayed by the faculty continued into her graduate program experience. “The professors were very willing to work with me individually so that the program was doable despite my being an hour and a half away from campus,” she says. “I feel really blessed with how Geneva has worked with me.”
Although Laura now teaches at a public school where she cannot openly talk about her faith, she teaches her students positive characteristics both inside and outside of the classroom— treat others the way you want to be treated and put others ahead of yourself. Laura’s favorite verses are Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” And working for the children with all her heart is what she does. Even when not in school, Laura’s heart is always with her students. Some of her pupils also attend Laura’s church, where they are able to see her lead and pray for them in a different type of classroom. Her involvement in the community displays what she stands for and the students and parents know what she believes. Laura places a high value in the education and instruction that she was given throughout her time at Geneva, saying that it made her the teacher and woman that she is today. “I consider myself so blessed to have spent seven years of my life studying education at Geneva College from caring, knowledgeable professors who have helped me to see the link between education and my relationship to Christ, as well as helped me to grow as an individual.” G
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