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For Students
Student Letter: Irene
The first thing I remember about Terri is that she gave the entire class
candy. She wasn’t trying to bribe us, although it wasn’t a bad
touch. The silver-wrapped Hershey Kisses were actually part of a sensory writing
exercise in which she tried to show us that writing involved more than flat
words on flat paper. From the very beginning, Terri endeavored to engage all
of our senses. She offered lessons with a different approach, each of which
targeted memories and feelings that would enrich our writing.
Perhaps the reason why "feeling" was such a theme in Terri’s
class, is because "feeling" seemed to be a theme in Terri herself.
The second thing I remember about Terri is that she genuinely seemed to care
about our class. She had a natural openness, which had a contagious effect
on everyone. In a few short weeks, the normal, detached classroom setting
was replaced by something more close-knit and almost familial. Although it
is natural for students to relate to peers, in this case it was obvious Terri
was the essential bond. Her sensitivities to each individual made everyone
feel recognized and important.
Furthermore, it was not out of character for Terri to extend herself beyond
any measure of duty in order to help a student out. Speaking from personal
experience, Terri was invaluable as a job resource for me this past summer.
She used her own pool of friends and colleagues to circulate my resume, which
resulted in several excellent opportunities within my field. Ultimately I
secured employment which I’m still connected to part-time while I finish
school.
Theresa Senft is an excellent educator and a wonderful person. I don’t
mean to sound cliché or overly sappy, but she is without a doubt one
of the most memorable professors I have known. Her energy was always uplifting
and her approach to education was never dull or rigid. Besides feeding us
emotionally and keeping us entertained, she never forgot her role as the instructor.
We learned about Art, we learned about literature, and last, but not least,
we learned about ourselves.