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Thank You So Much for Coming Today
a letter from a JA volunteer
By Mindi Harrison, Assistant Academic Dean, AIB College of
Business
Little did I know that the words, “Thank you so much for coming today”
would mean so much to me during my first Junior Achievement experience. As
the service learning coordinator at AIB College of Business, it is my
responsibility to connect current AIB students with experiences in the
community that tie back to their learning in the classroom. It is without
question that the Junior Achievement program is the perfect fit for our
students to help teach business-related curriculum to local K-12 students.
This experience would help our college students learn to not only give back
to the community, but to also become more comfortable speaking in front of
small groups. However, to better understand what our students would be
experiencing in these encounters, I thought I should try my hand at the
Junior Achievement classroom experience firsthand.
Since I have taught high school and college-age students over the past eight
years, I felt as if I had a fairly good idea of what to expect before
heading into the classroom. I met briefly with Brenda Dryer, Director of
Junior Achievement, to discuss the curriculum and expectations of the
third-grade classroom I would soon be visiting. The packet of information
and supplies I received were well-organized, and I was excited to begin
personalizing the curriculum as my own.
Before my first meeting with the classroom teacher, I think I read over the
Junior Achievement information a million times to make sure I was thoroughly
prepared for the meeting. I had highlighted important points, jotted down
notes, and made a list of questions for the classroom teacher. When I
finally made the trip to Karen Acres Elementary to meet with Ms. Raisch, I
found myself excited and nervous at the same time. It had been years since I
had been to an elementary school, and I smiled as I looked around and saw
how small everything was. Ms. Raisch was wonderful and comforting as she
gave me a tour of the room and answered all my questions about what to
expect on the first day with the students. I felt great as I left Karen
Acres and was really looking forward to my first day with the students.
When I first walked into the classroom, I could sense a little apprehension
– the students were looking me over trying to figure out who the new person
was on their turf. They soon headed out to recess which made me feel
relieved to have a little time to set up my materials and handouts and to
write a few things on the chalkboard. However, those few moments of quiet
time were soon over as the students eagerly settled back into their seats.
After a warm introduction from Ms. Raisch, I felt a huge sense of
empowerment as several sets of eyes looked directly at me. The students
listened patiently, and as soon as I asked my first question about cities
and businesses, I had to smile and laugh. About 20 hands shot into the air,
and a few of the students were climbing out of their seats trying to get me
to call on them. All I could think was how I wish I could bottle this
enthusiasm and love for learning and give it to a few of my college
students.
Over the next few times I visited, I had learned all the names of the
students, and I treasured their comments and excitement for the business
curriculum. I was amazed each time I came back and quizzed them about what
we had learned before, and they could answer the questions every time.
Additionally, it was amazing seeing them tie terminology from the Junior
Achievement curriculum into the events that were happening to them at school
and in the community.
As I reflect on my first experience of teaching Junior Achievement in a
local third-grade classroom, I feel as if I learned just as much as the
students did. Not only did I learn about the Junior Achievement program and
the importance of this program in our schools, but I learned how happy and
inquisitive these students are with minds just waiting to be molded. I was
reminded how great the teachers in our communities are as I watched Ms.
Raisch facilitate a caring and respectful classroom. I learned that students
are honest and that I should make sure I’ve used a lint brush and don’t have
a hair out of place because it’s guaranteed that one of the students will
point it out. But most of all, I learned that I made a difference to at
least one student at Karen Acres as that student tapped me on the shoulder
one day before I left. With that big smile on his face and his voice in all
honesty, he said, “Thank you so much for coming today, Ms. Harrison.” It
made my whole experience worthwhile.
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