It’s been a busy first trimester and fall season and now a new trimester and winter season for the freshman class. They have worked hard to take advantage of the many opportunities around campus as well as navigate the challenges both in and out of the classroom. While the community as a whole has witnessed the many talents our newest Seawolves have brought to our school by the sea, as the freshman seminar L.E.A.P.S. teacher (Leadership, Ethics, Academic Management, Perspectives, and Self), I have had the distinct pleasure of learning first-hand how thoughtful, engaged, creative, committed, and just plain old fun these freshmen are.
In the freshman class’ quest to meet the seminar goals to “become more knowledgeable about themselves, engage in meaningful relationships, and contribute to the Tabor community and the world beyond,” they have tackled topics and projects that range from “Who am I, where do I want to go, and how am I going to get there?” to learning how to create their own “Happiness Equation,” to designing and implementing a subtle “Nudge” that will inspire the Tabor community to easily make positive changes to campus culture. They have imagined trading places with our international students, and finally, created “Iceberg Compositions” that help students understand what lies beneath the surface of their peers, highlighting the importance of learning a person’s whole story.
Through their active engagement and enthusiasm to create quality representations of their ideas, many of the freshmen have been able to understand more clearly how they learn and then transfer those skills to their academic courses. It’s safe to say there have been some “AHA” moments! The Deans’ office was impressed by the quality and viability of the “nudges” that many groups designed – For example, a system devised to increase weekend event participation, areas designated and resources provided for reading and sharing news in print (a break from being online!), facilitation of recycling – and the groups are now in the process of refining their ideas for possible implementation during the spring trimester. Finally, as they traverse the dark days of winter ahead, there’s no doubt that a number of students will be able to look back in their journals to retrieve and practice the skills of meditation, disconnecting, gratitude, practicing kindness, and taking a simple walk – the elements that comprised their “Happiness Equation” unit.
For me, LEAPing into the new year with the freshmen has been a joy and an honor. Every class is filled with novel ideas, myriad perspectives, and countless laughs. As well, it’s been a delight to cheer them on during athletic contests, applaud wildly for performances, and marvel at their masterpieces in the art center. There’s no doubt that Tabor’s future is bright with the remarkable class of 2021!
