Cedarville Magazine, Spring 2021

their masks is a unique challenge that makes me have to fight battles that are unrelated to their academic success or growth in character,” he explained. “Making sure kids wear their masks has been a challenge that has been almost impossible to fight,” Tiell echoed. BRACING FOR THE UNKNOWN Another unique challenge for this year’s first-year teachers is the constantly changing environment due to the pandemic. Because students regularly come in and out of quarantine, teachers don’t always know who will be there on a daily basis. “I never know what to expect each day, so I have given up planning ahead,” explained Tiell. “I just walk in each day with a general understanding of what I am about to do and throw it all out the window depending on what students I have each day.” The uncertainty weighs on the students as well. “My kids pray every morning that we will get to stay together with our classroom family. I’m continually having students coming in and out of quarantine, which is scary for them,” shared LaMonte. “Not being able to promise them that we’ll stay together is heartbreaking.” But for many of Cedarville’s first-year teachers, this uncertainty has provided opportunities to have meaningful conversations and model faith in how they interact with their students and their fellow teachers. “Whenever questions about life and deeper meaning come up, I am unashamed to share what I believe,” said Brophy. “I have been able to share a shortened version of the Gospel and directly plant a seed with three of my students already!” Tiell works with students who come from difficult backgrounds and have a lot of deep questions about life. “I have been able to answer these questions from a Gospel perspective,” she shared. Since she teaches at a parochial school, Ketchum has been able to incorporate Scripture and the Gospel into her science lessons every day. “It’s awesome!” she said. LOVING FIRST Through the challenges, Cedarville’s first-year teachers have tried to focus on what’s most important: their students and sharing God’s love with them. “I just want to fully be there for them and love them well in this job I have been given,” shared Beste. Ferguson advises her former students to — for this season — focus on relationships more than keeping up with the set curriculum. “They are professionals who are prepared to take the love of Jesus to their students in a way that meets each of them where they are,” she said. “Safety and love will better prepare their students for learning.” For now the new teachers are persevering through this difficult season, trusting God for strength to endure and looking forward to better days ahead. “I have learned to hold loosely to my own plans and hold strongly to the Lord's,” said Beste. Michele (Cummings) Solomon ’91 is the Copy Editor for Cedarville University Marketing and Communications. The amount of stress is insane. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. Ariel (Schantz) Ketchum ’20 Cedarville Magazine | 15