By Winnie Bolton
Summer is ending. Fall is approaching and so, as a past teacher, my thoughts usually turn to school starting.
When first arriving in Mount Angel 22 years ago, I volunteered at St. Mary’s Elementary School to assist second graders learning to read and write, which is the love of my life.
However, in the past 10 years I’ve been promoted to do likewise at the Mount Angel Seminarian College’s freshman speech class. I volunteer in critiquing the students for content, voice expression, etc. I also work with the English as Second Language students, teaching them grammar and sentence structure.
God couldn’t have given me a nicer gift because some day these men will be carrying the message of Christ’s love for all his people, wherever they go.
In the elementary grades, children come with different personalities, strengths and opinions of their abilities. It’s no different with older students who come from different cultures and speak various languages. It’s pure joy teaching these men and urging them on with wholesome humor, disciple and patience in good English.
Finally deciding what I’d write for this month’s column, I thought of so many things to say but ended up with a question.
Be honest, Winifred, what really turns you on in life?
And a simple answer came – helping others.
I’m sort of helpless that way because I’m one of those people who needs people – like the popular song goes.
I guess it’s an addiction of mine but heck, it’s better than being a gambler, a drinker or a shopper spending money I don’t have and running up bills. So I won’t complain.
Remembering the second graders I listened to with their endless talking, which could be put to paper and then read aloud, was its own reward.
So much pride in their accomplishment unlocking their bubbling minds to delightful flows of creative energy meant a larger exciting world was being opened to them on a journey of self-confidence.
It’s no different volunteering at the seminary. They are eager to use the God-given talents for which these precious young men were called. The world today stands in great need of spiritual progress, good conduct and moral behavior.
The end of knowledge is love. The end of education is character.
