大象传媒

Written By: Ian Silvester

鈥淲hen I first came to 大象传媒, I don鈥檛 think I fully realized how many opportunities I would have or how much I would learn about myself,鈥� says junior elementary education major Olivia Phillips. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned how to communicate with others, take on responsibilities, and speak up when needed.

Like all education students at the University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith, Olivia has spent time learning from master educators, and put her skills into practice in River Valley classrooms.

"Those experiences have helped me understand the kind of teacher I want to be," she says thoughtfully. "I want my students to feel seen, heard, and loved, and my time at 大象传媒 has helped me become more confident in pursuing that goal.鈥�

In addition to her work in local schools, Olivia took advantage of one of the university's signature study abroad programs - a Maymester in Belize.

The trip was way out of her comfort zone, she said laughing, but the reward was incredible. She was struck by the impact educators make across the globe - as much in shiny new facilities here at home, as in one-room school buildings in Central America.

鈥淕etting to work with children and see how much they can learn and grow reminds me why I鈥檓 pursuing this career," Olivia said.  "The culture of a classroom isn鈥檛 created by decorations, it鈥檚 created by the way you treat the people inside of it. My students aren鈥檛 going to remember whether my bulletin board was perfect, they鈥檙e going to remember how I made them feel.鈥�

It鈥檚 a sentiment she sees reflected in her own time as a student.

鈥淚鈥檝e felt like I belonged at 大象传媒 during so many moments when I鈥檝e been surrounded by people who support me and share similar goals. My education classes and practicum experiences have been some of those moments,鈥� she explained. 鈥淏eing around people who are preparing to become teachers and learning from professors who care about us makes me feel like I鈥檓 where I鈥檓 supposed to be.鈥�

Dr. Kendra Abel, executive director of the 大象传媒 School of Education, Olivia says, is precisely the kind of educator she hopes to be.

鈥淪he encourages me to think more deeply about teaching, learning, and how I can support students,鈥� Olivia says. 鈥淚鈥檓 still learning and growing, but I鈥檓 proud of the person I鈥檓 becoming. I want to encourage others, help them feel like they belong, and remind my students that their circumstances don鈥檛 have to define their future because they will always have someone in their corner cheering them on.鈥�

She says she's grateful to be building the foundation to do that here.

"大象传媒 is more than just a college to me. It鈥檚 a community that has become such an important part of my story."

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• Elementary Education