Teacher Spotlight
Mrs. Kristen Edson can say she has a gratifying job: teaching math to high school students. Edson is finishing off her first year at Marquette, but has eight years of experience behind her. Her teaching philosophy is simple:
“Everyone can learn math. Many people are scared of it due to prior experiences in school, especially adults, but everyone can learn it. It’s just a different language and learning any new language takes time and practice,” Edson said.
Her inspiration comes from her own teachers.
“I had so many professors at Saint Mary’s College who were absolutely amazing and pushed me to go beyond what I thought my limits were with learning.”
Edson herself hopes to follow in their footsteps and encourage her students to keep going. Her advice to seniors is to communicate with their professors.
“Asking questions is part of the learning process, and it’s their job to help you learn.”
Outside of school, she likes reading and spending time with her family, especially her new daughter, Annabelle.
Student Spotlight
Cherish Jones, Marquette Catholic High School senior, loves the month of May. Not only is it warm out, but she is also three weeks away from graduation. She will be attending Purdue University in West Lafayette this fall, majoring in computer information systems and Spanish. She is not sure what career she will choose, but is thinking about becoming a cyber security analyst. She reflected on her past four years at Marquette, saying her favorite part was when the senior class won Armageddon Games, their field day. Jones has worked a part-time job for a few years and has still managed to maintain great grades. Her secret to success is time management.
“It’s hard to try to budget your day efficiently, but once you get in the swing of things, it becomes easier. I think having to work quickly at my job has also given me the ability to think and write quicker.”
Jones’s advice to incoming freshmen is to be yourself.
“If you try too hard to fit in, you will lose sight of what’s really important. Don’t slack off because it is your first year. Every year is vital to solidifying an attractive high school resume,” she said.
All in all, Jones is very excited for all the new experiences that college will bring. Best wishes in your college career, Cherish!
#1StudentNWI Reflection
Over the past two years I have had the opportunity to write for LaPorteCountyLife.com as part of the #1StudentNWI program. I am proud to have represented Marquette Catholic High School through this program. It allows high school students to have a journalism internship through writing about their schools.
The part I have loved most is focusing on good news only. Most times, the media tries to angle stories to shine negative light on schools. Ideas in Motion Media does the exact opposite; they encourage their writers to share the good news happening at their school that many may not know about.
This opportunity really challenged me at first. I’ve always loved to write, but interviewing students and teachers was a daunting task. However, after my first article, I became more comfortable with the role of being a “school reporter.” Every month I could use my creativity and have fun writing. I learned a great deal about the students at Marquette that I may not have otherwise. Interviewing the teachers was my favorite part because I could get to know them on a deeper level and hear about their journey to where they are today.
My advice to aspiring journalists would be to step outside of your comfort zone. There are so many opportunities that await if you only give it a try. I would recommend this program for any student interested in developing their communication and writing skills. It was really a rewarding experience and brought me much closer to my teachers and peers. I would not have traded this opportunity for anything. Thank you #1StudentNWI!