Madeworthy Mar/Apr 2023

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Q

Contributors Questions You’re a freshman in college, and you can choose any major, simply for the fun of it. What do you choose and why?

Issue 34 | Lessons Learned March/April 2023 Publisher Editor Associate Publisher

Victoria Wise

Jackie

Victoria

Lee

Honest answer? I wouldn’t change my major. But if “forced” to be playful and choose other than English, I’d say graphic design.

Fine Arts. I wish I had explored more in studio arts. It's something I do as a hobby now, but I would love to have enjoyed it as a student.

Art history. I was a history major, and I love the stories behind the movements, the artists, and the individual pieces.

Maybe do a double major with photography.

Carolyn

Jennifer

Trish

I’d major in auctioneering because of my love of collectibles, antiques, and auctions.

Can I major in restaurant reviewing?

Or reading. No tests or analysis or papers. Just sitting and reading.

[Editor’s note: Yes. This. Yes.]

I might choose archeology. Digging for treasure sounds pretty good!

Lee Virden Geurkink Jennifer Kieta

Contributing Writers Jackie Elliott

Stacey Pierce

Danika Franks

William Wise

Jennifer Jolin

Contributing Photographer Carolyn Morris

Illustrator Trish Wise

Lead Design

Cover Design

Conor Dardis

Victoria Wise

Madeworthy Magazine is an extension of Tanglewood Moms, LLC., and serves to tell community stories for a family audience. For website and magazine advertising opportunities, please contact: Victoria@MadeworthyMedia.com Looking for more copies Madeworthy Magazine? You can subscribe at TanglewoodMoms.com for free or pick up copies at Central Market in Fort Worth or Tom Thumb on Hulen Street.

William

Danika

History. Apart from my affinity for pipe smoke and tweed jackets, the study of history enables us to locate ourselves within the tapestry of human experience and informs us about where we are, how we got here, and why we are the way we are. It isn't just old stuff. It’s our collective story, and if we pay attention, it occasionally offers insights into where we might be headed.

Environmental Psychology and/or Architecture. It is a natural extension of my appreciation for the human form as it looks at how humans experience their world in physical space. Fascinating to say the least.

Innovation building and the Gateway conference center. The complex will include classrooms, labs, and flexible spaces for collaborative research in engineering, agriculture, and health sciences, among others.

The date for construction of these two buildings hasn’t been announced yet.

Texas A&M Fort Worth Set to Transform Downtown

by Lee Virden Geurkink Rendering courtesy of Texas A&M University

Until two years ago, Fort Worth was the largest city in Texas without a public research university.

However, that all changed when Texas A&M decided to base its new research campus in Fort Worth’s downtown after an invitation from Fort Worth and Tarrant County officials.

The high-rise campus of three buildings, now officially named Texas A&M Fort Worth will be located near the Fort Worth Water Gardens and the Fort Worth Convention Center on the same site as the existing Texas A&M School of Law. (As an interesting historical aside, this is the heart of Fort Worth’s infamous Hell’s Half Acre, Texas' most, er, rambunctious red-light district.) The first building to start construction will be the Law & Education building and is expected to be completed by 2025.

Once the Law & Education building is complete, the existing Law School building will be pulled down.

The other two buildings will be the Research &

The campus will offer programs from Texas A&M University and Tarleton State University, which is a founding member of the Texas A&M University System, as well as several Texas A&M System agencies.

John Sharp, Chancellor of Texas A&M, is enthusiastic about the new campus. “A top-10 public research institution ensures Fort Worth’s future is rooted in the next economy driven by an educated workforce, whether it be lawyers, engineers, health care professionals or technology workers whose jobs don’t even exist today,” Sharp said at a press conference in Fort Worth in January.

“Thanks to our partners, the city of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, the Texas A&M System is investing in a unique public-private sector endeavor that will be a magnet for economic growth for the North Texas region.” The Texas A&M School of Law is already a presence in downtown Fort Worth.

Originally founded in 1989 as the Dallas/Fort Worth School of Law, it became the Texas Wesleyan University School of Law in 1992, relocating from Irving to Fort Worth. Texas A&M acquired the school in 2013.

In a conversation with Madeworthy, the Dean of the School of Law, Robert B. Ahdieh, was enthusiastic about the new campus. “Texas A&M Law – building on the values it developed as part of Texas Wesleyan – sees as central to its

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mission the advancement of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and North Texas as a whole,” Ahdieh said, “That is reflected in the caliber of students and professionals we bring to the community, in our clinics serving the needs of veterans, entrepreneurs, patients at Cook Children’s, and others, and in the fast-growing educational programs we have developed for engineers, healthcare professional, bankers, and other non-lawyer professionals who need specialized training in relevant law, regulation, compliance, and the like. As academic anchor of the new campus, we will be positioned not only to build on that, but to do even more!”

The funding for the new campus comes from a unique partnership between the City of Fort Worth and the university. The university owns the land and will enter into a ground lease with the City, which will then develop the land, along with a third-party developer. The Research & Innovation building and the Gateway conference center will contain non-academic units which will be controlled by the third-party developer.

The architect of record is Stantec, while the design architect is Pelli Clarke & Partners. At the January press conference, William Butler, Design Partner at Pelli Clarke & Partners, said, “Aside from providing a state-of-the-art space for education, collaboration, and innovation, the Texas A&M Fort Worth Law and Education building will serve as a catalyst for Downtown Fort Worth’s next chapter.”

The property’s third-party developer had not been chosen by the time this issue went to press.

Mayor Mattie Parker, although an alumna of the University of Texas, is enthusiastic about how Texas A&M Fort Worth will impact our city. “Texas A&M is a premiere university system, and this expansion in downtown Fort Worth will be home to incredible opportunities for life-changing workforce development and world-changing research. I am excited to be continuing to partner with Tarrant County to usher in this exciting new wave of development and accelerate the path toward opening the doors of ‘Aggieland North.’”

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Fort Worth Events Mar – Apr 9 World of Orchids: Fort Worth Botanic Gardens fwbg.org Mar – Apr 30 I’ll Be Your Mirror: Art and the Digital Screen: The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth themodern.org

Mar 12 – Jul 9 Emancipation, The Unfinished Project of Liberation: Amon Carter Museum of American Art cartermuseum.org Mar 17, 19

Apr 8 Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks: AT&T Stadium ticketmaster.com

Mar 2 – Mar 12 Photo by Steven Visneau

Texas Ballet Theater Presents Modern Masterpieces: Bass Performance Hall texasballettheater.org

The Play That Goes Wrong: Stage West stagewest.org

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Mar 2-4 Stolen Shakespeare Festival: Sanders Theater stolenshakespeareguild.org

Mar 18 Fort Worth African American Roots Festival: Southside Preservation Hall fwaamfest.com

Mar 24-26

Apr 14, 16

Aida: Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU fwopera.org Apr 15 Fort Worth Fairytale Ball: FW Convention Center prettyprincesspartiesusa.com

Mar 3 Muse: Dickies Arena dickiesarena.com

Apr 18-30 Tootsie: Winspear Opera House broadwaydallas.org

Mar 4 Photo courtesy of TCU Baseball

TCU Baseball v Kansas: Lupton Stadium gofrogs.com Mar 26 Tipps and Obermiller Album Release Show: The Post thepostatrivereast.com Wild Symphony: Bass Hall fwsymphony.org

Apr 13-15 NCAA Gymnastic Championships: Dickies Arena dickiesarena.com

Mar 20 Vance Joy: The Factory in Deep Ellum thefactoryindeepellum.com

Mar 3-5 Music of Motown: Bass Performance Hall fwsymphony.org

Photo courtesy of FWSO

Apr 6-9 Disney On Ice, Frozen & Encanto: Dickies Arena dickiesarena.com Apr 7 Charlie Robison: Billy Bob’s Texas billybobstexas.com

Mar 1 TCU Basketball v Longhorns: Schollmeier Arena gofrogs.com

Photo by Evan Michael Woods

Apr 2 TCU Women’s Tennis v Baylor: Bartzen Varsity Courts gofrogs.com

Apr 18-19 Sean McConnell Tulips tulipsftw.com Apr 20-23

Mar 28-Apr 2 Annie: Bass Performance Hall basshall.com

Mar 4 TCU Women’s Basketball v Kansas: Schollmeier Arena gofrogs.com

Mar 30 – Apr 2 Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival: Various

Mar 12 Fort Worth Vendor Fair: Martin House Brewing martinhousebrewing.com

Apr 1,2 Reptilian Nation Expo: FW Convention Center reptiliannationexpo.com

Mar 12 – Jul 9

Apr 1 – Oct 1

fortworthfoodandwinefestival.com

Photo by Geno Loro

Main Street Arts Festival: Downtown Fort Worth mainstreetartsfest.org Apr 20 Lukas Nelson: Billy Bob’s Texas billybobstexas.com Apr 21-May 7 Baba: Amphibian Stage amphibianstage.com Apr 28, 2023 KXT 91.7 Presents: Los Lobos tannahills.com

Christina Fernandez (b. 1965), Lavanderia #1, 2002, archival pigment print, from the series Lavanderia, courtesy of the artist and Gallery Luisotti, Los Angeles, © Christina Fernandez

Christina Fernandez: Multiple Exposures: Amon Carter Museum of American Art cartermuseum.org

Avedon's West - Richard Avedon (1923-2004), Ruby Mercer, Publicist, Frontier Days, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 7/31/82, gelatin silver print, Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas, P1985.28.73, © The Richard Avedon Foundation

Avedon’s West: Amon Carter Museum of American Art cartermuseum.org

Apr 28-30 Pink Martini: Bass Performance Hall fwsymphony.com

Fresh Family Recipes As the theme of this issue of Madeworthy is education and learning, we thought it fitting that our Fresh Family Recipe contributors are teachers.

Foil Baked Ginger Sesame Alaskan Salmon Raspberry Soufflé with Raspberry Coulis Dr. Anne VanBeber is a professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences in TCU’s College of Science and Engineering. This recipe is from the Moist Heat Lab in her Gourmet Cooking Class. “Cooking in foil traps the heat and cooks quickly with steam... Fish has minimal connective tissue and will easily get tough if cooked by heat that is too high.”

This recipe comes from the Culinary Institute of Fort Worth. Many people see the word “soufflé” and panic, but really, a soufflé is just a baked custard with lofty aspirations. Be sure to have the ingredients for the soufflé at room temperature. This ensures more volume in the beaten egg whites and easier incorporation of all ingredients.

Ingredients

Ingredients

For the soufflé ¼ cup butter, softened 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar (divided use) 1 cup fresh raspberries 2 tablespoons raspberry liqueur 5 egg whites (remember, room temperature!)

A pinch of cream of tartar

4 slices of yellow onion, separated into rings 2 medium carrots, shredded or cut into julienne strips 1 pound Alaska salmon fillet, preferably wild-caught (thawed if frozen) 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated 2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil Kosher salt and cracked black pepper, to taste 4 handfuls of fresh spinach leaves

Directions

For the raspberry coulis 2 cups raspberry purée (Editor’s note: thaw and purée a bag of frozen, unsweetened raspberries, then strain) ½ cup sugar 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 450°.

Center the onion slices and carrots on a sheet of heavy-duty foil measuring 12 by 18 inches. Top with the salmon. In a small bowl, combine the ginger, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Pour over the salmon. Season with salt and pepper. Wrap and seal the foil to form a packet.

Directions

For the soufflé Preheat the oven to 375º. Ensure that your oven racks have plenty of space for your soufflé to rise about 1 to 2 inches.

Place the packet on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 16 to 20 minutes. The salmon is done when it flakes when poked with a fork. To serve, open the foil packet and place salmon, onions, and carrots on a bed of fresh spinach. Sprinkle with additional seasoned rice vinegar, if desired.

Prepare 8 soufflé ramekins by rubbing softened butter on the interior (all the way up the sides of the ramekin) and then sprinkling approximately ½ cup granulated sugar into the ramekins so that it coats all sides of the ramekin evenly, discarding the excess sugar.

Using a fork, smash the raspberries until they are all broken down and a chunky purée begins to form. You may strain the seeds out or keep them as a matter of preference. Add the raspberry liqueur to the purée and combine. Set the mixture aside.

Serves 4.

Steamed Broccoli Almandine

Build the meringue by whipping the egg whites in a mixer until foamy.

[Editor’s note: make sure that your mixing bowl and beater are scrupulously clean, as any little bit of oil will keep the whites from whipping into a foam.]

Slowly add ¾ cup sugar and continue to whip just past soft peak. “Soft peak” means that when you turn the whisk or beaters upside down, the peak is just starting to hold. It folds back into itself after a second or so.

This is another recipe from Dr. VanBeber’s Moist Heat Lab. She said, “When cooking vegetables with moist heat, you have to learn to add flavors with herbs, spices, and other aromatics because there is no browning to add flavor.

Browning occurs [only] with dry heat cooking.” Other labs in the class teach knife skills, dry heat cooking, the use of herbs, and sushi rolling. Students also plan a guest reception, create delicious "small bites," and invite a mentor to join them. The course’s final project is an "Iron Chef/Mystery Bag" lab where students work in teams to create a meal without recipes and with required surprise ingredients.

Fold raspberry mixture and egg whites together carefully to retain as much volume as possible. [Editor’s note: I find it helpful to stir in about 1/3 of the egg whites into the raspberry mixture before adding in the rest of the egg whites.

This allows for easier incorporation while allowing for maximum volume.]

Ingredients 2 pounds fresh broccoli, washed and cut into uniform pieces Kosher salt and cracked black pepper to taste 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 ounce sliced almonds 1 clove garlic, minced 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Load batter into ramekins until they are almost completely full. Place the filled ramekins on a baking sheet and cook in the preheated oven for about 12 to 15 minutes.

Directions Sprinkle the broccoli lightly with salt and pepper and place into a steamer basket over a medium saucepan of simmering water. Steam until tender but slightly crisp, approximately 3 minutes.

While the broccoli is steaming, melt the butter in a sauté pan. Add the almonds and garlic and cook until the almonds are lightly browned. Arrange the broccoli on a platter for service, sprinkle with the lemon juice, and drizzle with the almonds and butter. Serve immediately. Serves 6.

For the raspberry coulis While the soufflés are baking, combine the ingredients for the coulis and simmer in a small saucepan until the granulated sugar is completely melted, and the mixture is smooth (about 10 mins).

Remove the soufflés from the oven, drizzle with the raspberry coulis, and serve immediately. Makes 8 soufflés.

- lllustrations by Trish Wise

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More Than Tutoring: Kids Hope USA Provides Stability and Love

by Jennifer Jolin

The elementary years are a crucial time in a child’s development, and mentoring programs can provide support and encouragement as well as academic tutoring. Students in Fort Worth ISD have access to several mentoring and tutoring programs, such as Kids Hope USA. Kids Hope USA began in 1995 with the somewhat daunting idea to transform lives, one child at a time.

Founder Dr. Virgil Gulker reached out to sociologists, educators, health care professionals, law enforcement, and child development specialists, who agreed that there was a need to fill the relational void in children’s lives. Thus, the idea of “one child, one hour, one church, one school” was born.

Kids First USA’s mentoring begins with local churches committing to a relationship with an elementary school in need of mentors. The churches provide caring adults who agree to meet with a child for one hour a week.

In Fort Worth, several churches participate in Kids Hope USA. First United Methodist Church joined the program in 2005 and has maintained a close relationship with T.A. Sims Elementary School for the past 18

years. In 2017, they extended their program to include students at Charles Nash Elementary School.

While the program is faith-based in that individual churches are in a relationship with individual schools, providing mentors and resources, religion is never discussed with the students. Rather, a mentor demonstrates the characteristics of their faith. By maintaining consistent and unconditional relationships with a child, they prove to that child that they are worthy of effort, of help, and of love.

Gay Ingram was the Kids Hope USA Coordinator at First United Methodist Church for 16 years. She said her favorite part of the program was seeing the relationships built between students and mentors. The students light up when they know it’s their day to meet with their mentor, and they are so excited to participate in activities like holiday parties hosted by the church. The love and dedication of volunteer mentors were always an inspiration to her.

Although mentors focus on reading and helping their students with assignments and homework, the

real purpose of the program is to foster the relationship between mentor and mentee. Each session ends with a game and a snack which encourages the duo’s connection and demonstrates to the child that this adult truly cares about them and looks forward to their time each week.

Many of these children have never experienced such a relationship. They crave the one-on-one attention, and they thrive on it.

For some mentors and students, the relationship extends past the elementary years and beyond the walls of the school. The children benefit from having a caring, consistent adult in their lives who is a role model, but mentors often find that they also benefit greatly from the relationship.

One Kids Hope USA participant [name withheld by request] has extensive experience with the program. Her younger siblings and two of her children are former mentees. While she and her husband are very involved parents, she always appreciated the role that mentors played in her children’s and siblings’ lives. The children’s mentors “became family to us, and we always knew that we could count on them.”

The children’s mentors learned that the family needed a washer and dryer, and the mentors’ Sunday school class provided these necessary items.

They helped connect the family to resources to resolve guardianship issues. The mentors were invited to participate in many family parties and were thrilled to be a part of their students’ quinceañera celebrations, as well as their high school graduations.

Although the children are no longer receiving mentoring services, the two families are forever connected and maintain a loving relationship as they support each other through life’s ups and downs.

When it comes to Kids Hope USA, building that trust and creating a stable relationship with the students is what it’s all about. Both the mentors and the students receive tremendous gifts from participation in the program.

The students learn that they are worthy and that there is at least one special adult out there who truly cares for them, no strings attached. The adults learn that even small gestures and volunteering for such a brief amount of time can make a huge impact on a child. Sometimes, they even gain a whole new family!

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winged-game hunting.”

How do you know if your new puppy can be forged into that kind of tool?

Strange opines, “There’s a common misconception that just because it’s a Labrador retriever, the puppy from an ad in the newspaper will make a good hunting dog. That isn’t necessarily true.”

Finding the Perfect Bird Dog

by William Wise Duck season is over. Dove season is a long way away.

Your kids are immersed in their activities, and your wife is happy the alarm isn’t set for four o’clock on Saturday morning. You, however, are still obsessed with bird hunting. You need a dog. Not just any dog.

You need a gun dog. A well-trained gun dog. But how do you get a welltrained gun dog? Not by accident, it turns out.

For our education issue, Madeworthy reached out to gun dog trainer JC Strange to better understand the process of turning puppies into great hunting partners.

JC is the owner and head trainer of Cripple Creek Retrievers in Decatur and has trained dogs that have competed at the highest national levels, with over two decades’ worth of happy customers.

JC pointed out an oftenoverlooked aspect of owning a hunting dog.

“Having a hunting dog is fun.” There’s more to it, though. “Texas law states that you have to attempt to recover any game animal you shoot,” said Strange. A dog, with its superior sense of smell and willingness to swim into cold water is “an important tool for any

According to Strange, training a gun dog starts with a three-part process: “Get the right puppy, raise the right puppy, and train the right puppy.”

Fortunately, finding a puppy has never been easier. “Social media is the key... The gun dog world is very friendly and helpful,” said Strange. He also stressed the importance of finding a local trainer.

In fact, finding a trainer before you find a puppy may be the best way to find the perfect puppy. The gun dog community is closely knit. A good trainer will know the type of dog you need based on the hunting you do. Guides who hunt nearly every day of duck and goose season have different requirements than someone who’s in an office five days a week. “Most dogs are in the field only 20 or 30 days a year. They

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have to be good family pets for the other 330 or 340 days,” said Strange.

The most important reason to find a local trainer is while the dog is being trained to hunt, the owner is being trained to hunt with the dog. Strange said, “It’s one thing if the dog does great with one of our trainers, but if he doesn’t do well out in the field with his owner, none of it matters.” Strange encourages his clients to learn with their dog.

“We want dogs between five and six months old, and we keep them for four months… they will hunt well when they leave here… but they’re still puppies, and the owner needs to be experienced in handling and helping a puppy...”

JC also stresses the

importance of picking the right breed. While your Boykin spaniel may be the most willing dog in the world, expecting him to retrieve limits of Canada geese for five hunters is not fair. Neither is asking your Chesapeake Bay retriever to sniff out and hold on twenty coveys of quail in a day. While JC trains mostly Labs, he also trains Boykins, German shorthairs, English pointers, Brittanys, and others. Every breed has its strengths and weaknesses; therefore, every breed is a compromise for a one-dog hunter.

If you’re itching to have a hunting dog but don’t know where to begin, start by finding the right teacher who will educate both you and your puppy. The right teacher will ensure you find the right dog, raise the right dog, and train the right dog.

To Be Young, Gi ed, and Black

by Danika Franks

Photos by Caroyn Morris

In its 150th year, TCU rang in the New Year with a national championship football game. In my 13 years as a fan of Horned Frog Football, I can hardly recall a more memorable time than the 20222023 season. My husband’s role as TCU's Fellowship of Christian Athletes' character coach for the football team has given me the joy of experiencing the dynamics of each season up close. The success of this season was certainly a highlight of my year. However, for me, the greatest gifts of this season were the personal anecdotes of life outside of football that I encountered. One stands out. Emari Demercado, fifth-year running back, is one hell of a football player.

He is also one hell of a student.

This is how I came to learn of Emari’s story. We had a marathon traveling season in December and January with the team to include eight days in Scottsdale and five days in Los Angeles. It was perhaps one of the best experiences that I have had getting to know the football players, staff, and coaches off the field. After the Fiesta Bowl victory, I sat with Emari’s coach, Anthony Jones, and his wife, Christina, over a meal. Christina left the table to greet a player and his partner. After her return to the table, she sat down and remarked, “Emari is such an amazing person.”

“Tell me more,” I said. She went on, “He’s one of the most devoted student athletes that I have ever known. He’s so bright; did you know that he just graduated with his master’s degree with a 3.7 overall grade point average?”

The educator, lifelong learner, and academic in me has always had so much appreciation for the experience of the collegiate studentathlete. The synergies of the human who is both gifted as an athlete and in the classroom are almost symbiotic, yet super-human in nature.

I was impressed to say the least.

When offered the opportunity to highlight the narrative of a member of the TCU championship team, it was clear that Emari’s story needed to be told.

On an unusually warm January afternoon, I sat outside at my home with Emari, his partner Valeria Lopez, Coach Jones, and Christina to talk about Emari’s time spent at Texas Christian University.

Emari’s roots are in Texas, but he grew up in Inglewood, California. In fact, he grew up very close to So-Fi Stadium where he played his final game for TCU. He attended a combination of public and private schools.

“I really didn’t like school in elementary, but it came really easy to me. I always made good grades, even if I didn’t want to.” He particularly enjoyed math and science. “I wanted to be an engineer. I watched my brother who was a mechanic and had a love for taking things apart. Legos were definitely my favorite toy.” While he admits that he did not initially embrace this identity, his mother was committed to his academic success. “If I came home with anything other than an A, she would challenge my efforts. Her expectations were high. She wanted more for my brother and me.”

While he continued to have academic success throughout middle school and high school, it was not until his junior year that he really dialed into football. “In middle school, Pop Warner [Little Scholars program] was our thing. We would talk about whose team was the best at school. I was a multi-sport athlete playing basketball and doing track in addition to football. I really didn’t get serious about my performance on the field until I transferred high schools.” It was at this time that Emari experienced a sense of belonging and being fully seen by his new football coach.

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see the passion that he had coming in.” Coach knows what he is talking about. “You know when you see his record. He gave us that confidence.”

Coach Jones, his wife Christina, and their two daughters moved here in March of 2022 from Memphis, Tennessee. His coaching pedigree is rich in depth and experience. He’s held the roles of offensive coordinator and head coach at the high school level and served four years in the role of running-back coach at the University of Memphis.

His recruitment to TCU was a whirlwind. “I flew down for an interview on a Friday, had the job by Monday morning, and flew back to start Monday night.”

He described his first day on the job. “It was a Tuesday, and I didn’t know anyone. The players taught me the offense before I had a chance to really dive into it myself. I could tell they were a studious group. They paid attention. They were engaged with what the new guy had to say. They let me know from the start that they wanted to be good and win.”

Coach Jones researched each player on the plane ride to Fort Worth. “For Emari, I knew he was the oldest guy in the room. I knew he played a bunch of snaps. I knew he went the junior college route – With the power of a fantastic coach-athlete relationship behind him, Emari began to hone his craft. He set goals for his next steps. He wanted to be an engineer, and he wanted to go to a Power Five conference school.

His drive to go Power Five was so strong that he opted for a year of junior college to improve his chances. It paid off. He had multiple Power Five schools pursue him. “I chose TCU because it felt like family.”

“”

For Emari, his eyes are now set to play on Sundays.

As the sun started to set on our gathering, the conversation shifted. Emari shared, “I just got my training schedule, and I’ll be working out all the way across the Metroplex. I also am preparing for my NFL interviews [in Los Angeles] …”. Valeria, who was sitting next to him, smiled nervously. The high school sweethearts and couple of seven years were expecting their first child the very next day. For the couple, the complexity of how many different directions they were being pulled in is not lost on them.

Valeria took a moment to reflect on her journey with Emari. “People often ask what I’m the most proud of Emari for. For me, it’s different because I’m his significant other. Football is one part of our life, but his progress as a person, his accomplishments in the classroom, and his ability to overcome life circumstances stand out the most.”

As they build their family, Emari and Valeria reflect on the importance of education for their child. For Valeria, access to learning is paramount. “I want to give our baby the opportunity that Emari has experienced. Right now, football is going really well, but he has two degrees to lean on if he needs it.”

Emari agreed. “It’s super important to give yourself an opportunity. Initially, I did not particularly like school, but I knew that’s what I needed. That initial [engineering] professor that I had in college probably didn’t think that I would amount to anything. I like proving stigmas wrong.”

To be young, gifted, and black Oh, what a lovely, precious dream To be young, gifted, and black Open your heart to what I mean

Proof is not owed to anyone. Emari doesn’t have to prove his worth in this world. However, we all can appreciate Emari’s lived experiences.

In the twilight, the dynamic of the group that sat on my back porch was communal, celebratory, and joyful.

Having experienced the mountaintop of the epic finale of this season together, we were connected in a special way. It was clear, however, that for Emari, he is still climbing. We all knew that something dazzling is still unfolding for him and his family, and we will be watching with pride and confident anticipation.

–Nina Simone, “To Be Young, Gifted, and Black,” after Lorraine Hansberry.

In his first semester at TCU, he declared his major. “I chose engineering because it’s always been my childhood dream.” He knew he had the ability to do it, but his first engineering professor voiced doubts. “When my professor found out I was a football player, he conveyed concerns about my ability to be successful in this area of study. The class was something that I enjoyed immensely. It was hard with football, but I loved doing the animated drawings in class. This was something that I did in high school and loved it.”

However, after that first semester, Emari had to come to terms with his choice of study. While engineering was his dream, so was football. It had become apparent that both would demand time that was near impossible to commit to collectively.

This is often the plight of the student-athlete.

He made the decision to change his major to economics with a minor in business. This change was certainly not a less-rigorous path, but it was more manageable. He could have gone easy, but that was not consistent with his goals.

He noted that his engineering professor was sad to see him go. He reflected, “I think it was the right decision for me. There’s a part of me that still thinks about engineering. At the time, I was told that I’d have to miss football in the upper-level courses, and that just did not work for me. It wouldn’t have worked out no matter what. It is what it is. I think it still worked out in other ways.”

It did. He just graduated with his master’s degree in December with a cumulative graduate grade point average of 3.7. His area of focus? Business analytics.

In his five years with TCU football, Emari worked with several running back coaches. In this historic 2022-2023 season, he trained with Coach Anthony Jones. “In his first season with us, he got us to come along and buy in pretty quickly. He’s a likable person. It wasn’t hard to fall in line when you could

that told me a lot about who he was. If you can play junior college football, you can survive a lot of stuff.

That showed me how much football meant to him.”

That wasn’t all that he learned. It didn’t take long to hear about the reputation that Emari had built for himself. “People around the building raved about him, saying he was smart and a quiet leader. I came to realize that he is the kind of kid you can leave at home and trust him to watch your house and know that nothing will go wrong. I knew that instantly with him.”

So, what is it like to coach such a multidimensional student athlete? Coach Jones mused, “He’s the smartest kid I have ever coached at running back.

When I arrived, he already had his undergraduate degree and was working on a graduate degree. A lot of students who are academically smart are not always as talented athletically. Some players that are athletically gifted don’t take academics seriously. I felt that Emari did both.”

“The first day we had practice and Emari did a couple of runs, I knew we had something to work with.” Putting the full picture together, Coach Jones knew that Emari was special. “I said to myself he is going to be the leader of this room. Whether it’s football or off the field, I knew he was going to have a tremendous season.”

The yin and the yang to academic scholarship and athletic success are often complementary. For Coach Jones, he explains this as a continuity of choices that an individual makes. “One of my favorite sayings is the way that you act off the field will be a reflection of how you play on the field. The way you carry yourself off the field – going to class, doing things the right way – will directly impact how you play on Saturdays.”

11

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Ten Truths About College Admissions

by Stacey Pierce If you’re a parent of a high school student, chances are you’re bombarded with information about college admissions, standardized tests, essays, federal student aid applications (FAFSA), and more, as well as by companies that want to help you navigate through the chaos. You know that times have changed since you went to college, but what does that mean for your child?

College prep companies promise the moon. Where is the straight talk?

ONE

THREE

There is no single factor in your child’s academic and personal profile that’s more important than other factors. “The SAT doesn’t matter anymore; concentrate on GPA” is a myth. “Be well-rounded; show you have multiple talents” is somewhere between a half-truth and a myth. In truth, all aspects of your child’s academic and extracurricular activities play an important part in the holistic evaluation of a potential university student.

TWO “Test optional” is not the same as “test blind.”

Very few schools are test blind. If your child isn’t submitting strong test scores to admissions counselors, and other students are, test scores are still a compelling differentiator, even at testoptional universities. Don’t discount the value of a strong SAT/ACT score.

FOUR Impact is as important as focus. A student wanting to study cyber security could start an awareness campaign and neighborhood workshops helping the community members evaluate and fix their own weak spots with cybersecurity. “As president of my computer science club, I organized and ran a team of peers offering free weekly workshops for individuals at risk for cyber-attacks. Through our in-person and online tutorials and our YouTube following, we helped protect 5,000 individuals from identify theft and subsequent financial loss/credit damage.”

Tangible impact is more valuable than mere participation.

It’s a myth that only star athletes can get merit scholarships. Start with FAFSA, then explore other scholarship opportunities.

Unlike needs-based scholarships, merit scholarships are available to anyone, regardless of household income.

The rigor of your child’s classes matters.

Admissions officers compare the level of rigor available versus the level of rigor attempted.

They want to see a student challenge themselves. They want to see curiosity and ambition. A 4.0 in a standard course isn’t as strong as a 3.7 in an advanced course, which may be on a five-point scale.

It’s true that students whose families can afford tutoring and coaching have an advantage. But determined students will excel, and discipline and determination, combined with a little guidance, can yield impressive results. Are legacy admissions real? Yes. Do zip codes really align with large-scale outcomes? Unfortunately, yes.

However, there is little that can keep a determined student down.

TEN This is an unpopular truth, but it is a truth: college isn’t for everyone. There are other paths to success. Some return to college later in life, and being a life-long student, whether formally or casually, is a worthy goal for us all. If your child is ambivalent about college, forcing an immediate decision or action could lead to wasted money, a low GPA, poor selfesteem, and a damaged relationship. Honor your child’s decisions while also presenting data that shows the possible outcomes of various choices.

A student should show interest in many areas, but universities want to see concentration in an area that is aligned with future career goals. If your child wants to work in cyber security, they should take the most advanced computer science class offerings available, participate in/be a leader of the computer science club, spend summers interning, and more. Is participation in a team sport necessary? Team sports show discipline and teamwork but are not as valuable as more career-focused activities. Connect the dots.

“Because a successful cyber security expert needs good collaboration skills and often needs to think quickly, the time I spent on the football team contributed to my professional growth while helping me stay physically active and better balanced.”

FIVE

EIGHT

SEVEN

I’ve been a teacher and a tutor for over 18 years. With my husband, I run the Pierce Institute for Academic Excellence, offering test preparation, college admissions assistance, subject tutoring, plus coding, robotics, and basic engineering/STEM support to Fort Worth students. Here are ten truths I’ve learned about college admission preparation.

SIX To get into a top-tier school, start planning very early by taking advantage of the most rigorous courses available to your child.

(Elementary school isn’t too early!) But if your child isn’t Harvard material, don’t force it.

Have lofty goals, but not at the expense of your child’s self-esteem. People who don’t have a strong start in high school can still attend esteemed universities and have wildly successful careers.

NINE If your child changes their career goals, don’t panic. Let’s say a hypothetical student, Sally, decides in middle school to be a doctor. She loads up on science classes, joins the medical club at school, gets certified in CPR, and shadows a doctor over her summers. Junior year, she realizes a career in medicine is not for her. She discovers what she really loves is the inner workings of the human body. She loves exploring how things work, and because she’s also artistic, she’d like to design how things work. Engineering is a better fit. Her extracurriculars led to self-discovery which put her on a path to engineering. No teen can have all the answers about their future! If Sally’s change of focus is properly explained, it will not adversely affect her.

REMember...

Kids and parents don’t always see eye-to-eye on college. As you navigate college admissions, don’t be afraid to lean on school counselors and community resources to help your child find their path.

13

e Fort Worth Conservatory of Music and Fine Arts

by Madeworthy Editorial Team 'Anyone can study music' is the guiding principle behind the Fort Worth Conservatory of Music and Fine Arts. From Early Childhood and Kindermusik classes for babies and toddlers to private lessons in voice, piano, violin, and guitar for any age, the Conservatory wants to inspire a lifelong love of music. Part of the Royal Conservatory of Music Certificate program, the Conservatory aspires to excellence, inspiration, and fun.

We reached out to the Conservatory’s founder and director, Dr. Jill Sprenger.

Madeworthy: What was the impetus for starting the Conservatory?

Jill Springer: My journey started with a great teacher, as it does for most musicians. From third through 12th grade, my teacher instilled in me a love for piano and music education. I became a university professor teaching advanced piano and pedagogy – in other words, teaching teachers to teach. After 30 years in university education, I dreamed of a conservatory where I and hand-picked teachers could give students of all levels and ages a solid technical foundation and a lifelong love of music.

MW: Tell us about how the Conservatory came into being.

JS: As a professional violinist and teacher, my husband Kurt was immediately on board [with the Conservatory]. We live in one of the original Ryan Place houses, and we knew we wanted a location nearby. As 2018 came to a close, Kurt and I began looking for a suitable building in the Southside. We found the perfect location on Hemphill that was already gutted and ready to be tailored to our specifications. It was a bit nerve-wracking… the electricity was turned on two days before, and the pianos were moved in the day before the opening. We can laugh about it now.

MW: What are your facilities like?

JS: We have five teaching rooms and five new Collora pianos: three uprights and two grands... Out of our five teaching rooms, one serves as our recital hall, and [another] holds our group theory classes.

MW: What level of training do students need to start with you?

JS: Students don’t need any prior training to study at the Conservatory. It is our pleasure to give students of all levels the skills they need to enjoy a lifetime of music-making! For our students who choose to pursue professional music, we provide opportunities to enter competitions and perform at a very high level.

Several students were awarded full scholarships to TCU, and another Conservatory voice high school senior was offered a full academic and performing scholarship for four years to her chosen university. Past students majored in music at schools such as Oberlin Conservatory, Baylor University, and the Peabody Conservatory of Music.

MW: Is there an age limit to begin learning music?

JS: It is never too early or too late to begin your musical journey! We have thriving Early Childhood Music classes for babies as early as six months old, and we teach adults far into their retirement who finally have the time and resources to realize their lifelong dream of studying music.

MW: Who is the ideal Conservatory student?

JS: Our motto is “Excellence, Inspiration, and Fun.” We strive to create a community of students who are watching the growth of other students in group activities and recitals and think “I want that!” We strive to keep students motivated within an encouraging environment. And we love fun events where the students bond. This spring, we will be bringing our music into the community, playing in nursing homes and assisted living centers.

MW: Tell us about the faculty members and their educational backgrounds.

JS: Our faculty members are all musicians of the highest caliber who are themselves advanced performing musicians. Each has a passion for guiding and nurturing young musicians to develop their full potential and skill. We strive to be the kind of teachers who can encourage students through the inevitable ups and downs of learning an instrument.

MW: What can new students expect at the Conservatory?

JS: Every student can expect an encouraging environment that promotes excellence, inspiration, and fun! Depending on their age, instrument, and experience, they’ll be paired with a private teacher or group to build the foundation they need to reach their unique potential and enjoy a lifetime of musical expression.

MW: How can prospective students or their parents learn more about the programs at the Conservatory?

JS: You can find an overview of our programs on our website. Follow our Facebook page to get updates for special events and this summer’s Music Theory Blast Camps.

Dr. Ashley Bender TWU's

Poet-Professor

by Lee Virden Geurkink North Texas is home to many wonderful institutes of higher learning. That means North Texas is home to many wonderful professors. Madeworthy has featured several professors in our pages over the years, and two of our regular contributors are professors at local universities.

Every year, we devote an issue to education and learning of all kinds, while another issue is all about the arts in our city.

Those two issues have been constants since we started publishing. So we thought, “What if we combined them?

What if we find a professor who’s a poet?”

May we introduce Dr. Ashley Bender?

Dr. Bender is an assistant professor of English at Texas Women’s University in Denton. She also coordinates the Bachelor of Arts program in English and the First Year Experience program.

She is the mother of six-year-old twins and volunteers at Denton’s community radio station, KUZU 92.9 FM. An avid poetry reader and occasional poetry author, Dr. Bender spends a lot of time reading and thinking about female authors of centuries past, especially of the eighteenth century.

She generously shared one of her poems with us.

Circle Games Chasing you in circles, den, kitchen, hallway, den kitchen hallway denkitchenhallway movement, blurred to tight humming harmony squeals, exuberant echoes round and round and round I want, need this euphoria to remain this moment, torrent, to hold this feeling, aching, exquisite, ephemeral in my hands, my mouth, my mind knowing I must write, send it to you scared I will forget, so I give up, give in, panting, pause the game, seizing seconds to write, capture, savor, until you come back to me, come back to me, Mommy, are you ready to do it? and I am again and again and again circle games for as long as you let me play.

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The 2023 Class of Madeworthy's

TOP STUDENTS IN FORT WORTH

by Lee Virden Geurkink

Since Madeworthy began publishing in 2017, we’ve featured either the best teachers or the best students in Fort Worth. This year, we are featuring students. Typically, we asked parents and friends to nominate their top students. This year, we decided to change things and asked the schools, instead.

What do we consider a top student? In the words of one of last year’s nominators, an 18-year-old describing her best friend, "Being a 'top student' doesn’t just mean 'the smartest' or 'the most popular.’ A top student has the ability to act as a beautiful human being, bringing care and respect into a community without being concerned with what they’ll get back."

And now, the 2023 Class of Madeworthy’s Top Students in Fort Worth!

Fancy Ford

Everett Percifield

Danica Richey

Mitchell McPherson

Young Women’s Leadership Academy

Hill School

St. Paul Lutheran School

Key School

Fancy Ford is a junior at the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth (YWLA). Fancy is a dynamic spirit yet is a quiet leader. She hungers to grow academically and sees her failures as progress. Fancy loves supporting the athletics offered at YWLA. She saw a need to increase school spirit and took it upon herself to become the first YWLA mascot, and she steals the show at pep rallies.

Fancy embodies the definition of a Top Student through her academics, care for others, and the pure joy that lights up every room she enters.

2023 senior Everett Percifield started at Hill School in the ninth grade and is a great addition to the Hill School family. He is a hard-working individual in the classroom and on the playing field. Everett has participated in many of our athletic offerings and has served as a member of our National Honor Society, Student Council, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

When he's not at school, Everett enjoys working on vehicles and serves as a leader for the middle school youth group. Everett is the epitome of a well-rounded student, and we are the ones that have been blessed to have him as a student.

Danica is an eighth grader at St. Paul Lutheran School. Danica’s character shines through in her many volunteer activities, including the Benbrook Library, Braille Bibles, and Linus Project, among others. At school, she is a supportive teammate on the basketball team, a leader in school musicals, and part of the Odyssey of the Mind State Championship Team.

Her works have been published twice by the Society of Young Inklings Books. What is most remarkable about this young lady is her faith, humility, and kindness. She encourages those around her and brings smiles to their faces daily.

Mitchell has a truly kind and compassionate heart for others. He demonstrates patience, empathy, respect, and integrity toward both his peers and adults. Mitchell will always hold the door for others without being asked, encourage his peers when they are struggling or feeling down, and offer companionship when he sees someone without a friend. He overheard a teacher mention that she loves cooking with fresh rosemary and brought her some from his family’s garden! He is an outstanding example of the loveliest qualities a human being can possess.

Clay Upchurch

Lynda Clayton

Joseph Muraski

Will Conner

All Saints’ Episcopal School

Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts

Nolan Catholic School

Fort Worth Academy

Clay Upchurch, ASES Class of 2023 and head prefect for All Saints’ Episcopal School, is part of the Tad Bird Honors College where he conducted an original research project entitled, The Effects of COVID-19 on the Tourism Industry and its Effect on the World. For his Senior Capstone and Design, he is currently partnering with Care Foundation, [an organization] that focuses on improving the lives of people with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Clay is a varsity athlete, an Eagle Scout, and is a regular speaker for his family’s tourism business.

Lynda may be the most well-rounded, resilient student ever. She makes the world a better place. For her Girl Scout Gold Award, she created a suicide prevention program, Not One More, presented to teachers at our school. Lynda is passionate about mental health and has been a willing resource for the entire student body of FWAFA. [As a classroom aide] she wrote a complete lesson plan to teach the structure of the Judicial Branch for a class period including interactive slides and activities to keep students engaged. If you want something done well, ask Lynda to do it or oversee it.

Joseph Muraski is a young man of integrity. What makes him a beautiful human being is his sense of humor and ability to handle setbacks maturely. Joseph is a natural leader.

He was selected varsity football captain during his junior year due to his ability to get the team to work together. Joseph's faith is an integral part of his life. He heavily relies on it when making decisions. His faith has given him the compassion needed to accept others. Joseph has learned to deal calmly with setbacks by relying on his faith.

Will Conner is intellectually curious and makes strong connections not only across content areas but also to events happening around the world.

Will is a world traveler, which has helped develop his broad worldview.

He seeks to understand different perspectives and is very mature with differences of opinion. Will is not only a strong leader but also a great teammate. He is willing to give others the opportunity to lead while he supports their ideas. Outside of school, Will is an avid gamer with a large online following and enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

16

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Influencing with Purpose:

Jennifer Kieta Social media influencers are everywhere, but not all influencers are created equally. Some use their platforms for more than advertising themselves. This issue’s Influencing with Purpose focuses on a familiar face: our associate publisher, Jennifer Kieta. Jennifer is a fitness guru at Zyn22, a singer, and a breast cancer survivor. - by Madeworthy Editorial Team Madeworthy: How did you start your fitness journey?

Jennifer Kieta: This will date me, but other than riding a bike with my grade school squad, I took my first steps in my fitness journey with the trailblazer of fitness herself, Jane Fonda. Her VHS tapes had the greatest full-body workout in the game! The next big leap into my love for movement came after a very emotional breakup with a guy I had been dating for about six years. Running became my therapy.

winded, so here are some quick ways to include exercise into your daily routine:

• Do Something You Enjoy. This is the best way to stick to an exercise routine.

• Plan Ahead. If you work out early in the morning, lay out your exercise clothes, book your class, or download the exercise app you’ll use the night before.

• Take Time Alone. We all struggle to make time for ourselves. Taking a walk, running, or enjoying yoga class can help turn off your brain.

MW: What about leading spin and HIIT classes fulfills you?

JK: It is my passion to empower people to believe they can achieve anything they set their minds to. I love watching clients grow in mind and body.

MW: What does Fort Worth have going for it in terms of fitness options?

JK: I’m grateful Fort Worth offers such a vast variety of options for people to choose from. Yoga, Pilates, HIIT, spin, karate, rock climbing, running clubs...

Finding something you enjoy is key to sticking with a workout routine. Fort Worth has something for just about anyone searching for a way to get moving!

MW: Who has been your inspiration in fitness to help guide you as an instructor?

JK: My husband, Brian Kieta, is not only an incredible songwriter and musician, but he’s my number one cheerleader. Denis Morton was a Soul Cycle Instructor before Zyn22 hired him to train the new instructors back when we started. These men helped me fight against self-doubt.

MW: As we age, what kind of exercises should we do?

JK: Low-impact exercises are a better choice as we get older. Pilates focuses on posture and body alignment, and even people with injuries or physical limitations can do it. Indoor cycling is also easy on the joints and is a ton of fun (in my humble opinion, of course!).

They did not allow me to give up on myself. Even when I was crying from frustration and exhaustion, they helped me fight. It is my greatest pleasure to pour into others in the way they encouraged me.

Never underestimate the power of walking. It’s simple but very effective.

Walking is a form of body weight movement that helps promote bone density.

MW: When you are not exercising or inspiring others to exercise, how do you like to spend your time?

JK: I love to cook and watch movies with my family. I put my heart and soul into what I do, so being with my husband and kids at home recharges me. I also love a good happy hour with friends. My friends help me keep perspective and motivate me to be a better human.

MW: What's your favorite story of someone who conquered their fitness goals?

JK: One of my favorite stories is about my friend Lauren. She started a program over a year ago called the 75 Hard Challenge. She needed a holistic reset – physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Losing weight was never her focus. Her focus was healing in all aspects of her life, and she stayed committed to the program. I had the privilege of walking alongside Lauren from the very beginning of her endeavor.

MW: How can someone add exercise to their daily or weekly routine?

JK: Goodness, I could get long-

MW: You are five years cancerfree. How did cancer change your perspective on health?

JK: By God’s grace and mercy, cancer left me stronger, bolder, and on a mission to convince people they are worthy of the fight. Brené Brown said, “One day, you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through, and it will be someone else’s survival guide.” This is exactly what I’ve chosen to do. Exercise is life insurance for your emotional and physical well-being, and you ARE worthy of the fight!

MW: Music is so important to you.

How do you come up with those bangin' playlists?

JK: The playlist is one of the most important parts of my class. We require a variety of beats per minute for each song… I also think about the emotional build and the fun. I want my clients to leave class empowered, knowing they achieved something really incredible for themselves. I like to incorporate songs from past and present, with a few mashups here and there to appeal to all. Music is therapy, and so is movement!

• Start Small to Lead to Big Results.

Thirty minutes a day is the goal, but simply moving more and sitting less will help. A little movement is better than none!

Coffee shop – Summer Moon Breakfast/brunch place – Righteous Foods Hangout with friends – Press Café Place to relax and recharge – Hotel Drover Museum or gallery – Amon Carter Museum

• Group Motivation. When you make workout friends, you also create accountability.

Here's my final nugget of encouragement. It’s intimidating to start an exercise routine. Exercise is a process which requires time and discipline. You have to do the work, but that work has a very powerful and beautiful outcome. It’s never too late to start.

Photos by Canon Elizabeth Photography and Sydnie Liska

Jennifer’s Fort Worth Faves Artist or musician – Brian Kieta Yearly event – Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Boutique – Winton + Waits Best bartender or cocktail – Hodge Stokes/ Old-fashioned

19

Sweet treat – Swiss Pastry Shop’s Black Forest cake Hamburger joint – JD’s Hamburgers Barbecue – Heim Mexican restaurant – Joe T. Garcia’s

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SEVEN Tips for REAL ESTATE Success in 2023 2023 is shaping up to be a year of economic uncertainty. Inflation, the threat of a recession, and the turbulence of last year’s real estate market are making home buyers wary. However, experts are saying that the Dallas-Fort Worth real estate market will be more stable compared to others nationally, which is good news.

If you’re looking to buy a house in 2023, fear not.

There are things you can do to make sure you are prepared.

If your credit isn’t in tip-top shape, find a financial advisor to help you. You’d be amazed at how simple changes can positively affect your credit score.

Find a real estate agent you trust. Realtor.com and Zillow have turned us all into “experts,” but a good real estate agent can save you thousands of dollars and help avoid any stumbling blocks along the way.

Once you’ve found an agent you like, listen to them.

They are the pros, and knowing the local market is their job.

housing market in DFW has slowed, and sellers are more willing to do what is necessary to close a deal. Does the kitchen or bathroom need updating?

Reduce your offer. Are you worried about that 18-year-old HVAC? Ask for a one-year home warranty. The sellers’ market is quickly turning into a buyers’ market.

Shop around for a loan. With interest rates as they are, it only makes sense to do your research and find the best loan you can afford.

And finally, be patient. Your home is not only the biggest financial investment, it’s your HOME! It’s your refuge and your oasis. It’s where you celebrate your family’s wins and recover from your losses. Don’t rush into a purchase just because you don’t immediately see anything in your price range.

Be willing to downsize your dreams a little. A smaller house means a smaller monthly payment. If you are even remotely handy, look for a house that needs a little love before it’s perfect. Which leads to our next tip…

Negotiate. Don’t be afraid of confrontation. The

Yes, the 2023 housing market is going to be very different that 2022’s, but with a little preparation, a bit of expert advice, and a modicum of patience, you will certainly find the home of your dreams.

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Rethinking Rhetoric

by Jackie Elliott

“Am I using rhetoric right?”

Seeking confirmation for his understanding of rhetoric as duplicitous, empty speech, a relative asked me this question at a holiday party last year.

He peered over his glass of merlot expecting an explanation, and I sighed audibly before saying, “How long do you have?”

As an assistant professor of English at Texas Woman’s University, people assume I have a menagerie of pet peeves about the use (and alleged abuse) of the English language. I am often asked to hypothesize as to why no one knows how to use a comma or to play therapist to those most concerned with texting's effect on the writing skills of the youth. And yet, these self-proclaimed protectors of the English language never upset me more than they do with their flippant dismissal of rhetoric.

Another useful definition of rhetoric comes from communications professor Dr. Christine Seifert, who writes, “Rhetoric is how we use symbols, whether images or language, to make sense of the world around us and communicate our particular perspectives to each other.” When we start to think about communication in terms of simple symbols, we start to realize that a symbol is neither inherently good nor bad. It’s just a symbol – a grouping of words, lines, shapes, or even colors to which we ascribe meaning.

“”

through, it can be difficult for people to notice the rhetoric that influences our every waking thought, our every uttered word.

Rhetoric is also more than mere words, though.

Rhetoric goes beyond writing and speaking into visual, tactile, spatial, or even gestural modes of communication. If this sounds abstract, remember the last time you saw someone wave two fingers to offer a peace sign. Or consider that every highway billboard is designed in a way that beckons you to try the “Best Coffee in Town” or to take the “Last Gas Stop for 50 Miles.” Commercials broadcast new shows you must watch, and social media platforms curate online storefronts you must visit. Everything is rhetorical.

Rhetoric goes beyond writing and speaking into visual, tactile, spatial, or even gestural modes of communication.

Pundits are quick to brand politicians as slick or silver-tongued for using rhetoric, and preachers warn congregations to be wary of the spellbinding effects rhetoric has on the mind and soul. In both cases, rhetoric is shunned for being dirty and divisive. In fact, most people adopt this definition of rhetoric with reckless abandon, but the hypocrisy is that such claims are stylistically sandbagged with a rhetoric all their own.

To put it another way, the increasingly popular, negative connotation of rhetoric is hardly an accurate denotation of a concept that’s been around for more than a millennium.

When we start to see rhetoric all around us, we can begin to shift our mindsets to appreciate rhetoric for how it empowers and connects us.

Making Sense of the World Countless and competing definitions of rhetoric swirl around in academic circles, but the most quoted comes from Aristotle: rhetoric is "the faculty of discovering in any particular case all of the available means of persuasion." Aristotle also popularized the three means of persuasion taught in writing classes today: ethos, pathos, and logos. While the accurate translation of these ancient terms would take three more columns to unearth, briefly ethos is synonymous with ethics or credibility, pathos pertains to emotion and empathy, and logos is alliteratively associated with logic.

Seeing the Signs Here’s a thought experiment I often give my students: think about the traffic signs you encounter every day. Picture a stop sign. Ask yourself these questions: How does color make the sign persuasive?

How does the octagonal shape make the sign persuasive?

How does the font or typeface make the sign persuasive?

What else about this sign persuades people to stop?

Now imagine all the stop signs in Fort Worth were pixie pink, shaped like ovals, and lettered in cursive script. You might wonder if you’re at a baby shower or the next stop on the Easter Bunny’s journey, not an intersection requiring drivers to stop, look both ways, and proceed with caution.

Consider the latent morality of the sign. The sign isn’t innately good, although it does keep us safe; nor is it bad, though it can be extremely annoying to encounter many stop signs when late for work.

Brushing aside baby dust and bunny humor, this thought experiment demonstrates the omnipresence of rhetoric in our daily lives. In the same way a fish can’t see the water it swims

22

Building Relationships

Here’s another quick thought experiment: Visualize the branding of a business – one you own or one you patronize. What colors, words, or icons does the business use to connect with customers? What’s the business’s purpose? What does the business offer its client base that makes it niche and necessary? And how is this business rhetorically composing itself in relation to other businesses?

Like rhetoric, businesses are everywhere. Most of us don’t stop and smell the roses, much less rhetorically analyze the businesses we use every day, but we are unconsciously processing the ways those businesses communicate with us.

Increasingly, there are businesses that aim to have an impact on their communities by giving back.

Rhetoric makes possible the success of a business as well as the relationships that businesses forge with communities. To quote famous rhetorician I.A. Richards, it would behoove us to remember that rhetoric "creates an informed appetition for the good."

As tempting as it may be to find fault with rhetoric when things go wrong, we take for granted how often rhetoric makes things go right. Or as a former professor of mine, Dr. Abby Dubisar, would often say, “Rhetoric is how we get things done.” Every carefully crafted email sent, every firm handshake promising partnership, and every toddler meltdown averted is the reward of rhetoric used for the right purpose and at the right time.

So, the next time someone asks you if that’s a rhetorical question, say yes.

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