Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/802239
SPRING 2017| WEAnews 12 Andy Holsinger University of Wyoming Chapter-Student Wyoming Education Association (UW-SWEA) President Growing up in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, I believed without a doubt that I wanted to go into the field of engineering because of my love towards creativity and problem- solving. I dreamt of using those skills to 'make an impact' and 'better the lives of those around me,' just as many children hope to accomplish when they are older. And for years, I took the necessary educational steps to prepare me for that career. Yet after graduating from high school and getting a few semesters of engineering classes under my belt, the creeping realization began to set in that I, Andrew Jacob Holsinger, had absolutely no business in living my life as an engineer; no amount of peer persuasion or self-denial could ever change that. The moment I was willing to not only consider but accept the unexpected, the world around me became more clear and in focus. I was able to visibly recognize those 'Ah-ha!' moments that you see depicted in movies or read within literature. One such moment occurred my third semester of college while working for the Pre-College and Student Visits Program at the University of Wyoming. I had the privilege of giving 38 4th-grade students a tour of some of UW's facilities. The joy I felt interacting with those elementary students is only rivaled by the feeling I experienced holding my youngest sister for the first time, moments after she was born. A couple meetings here, a few signatures there, and before I knew it, I was no longer "Andy Holsinger, misplaced engineering student," but rather, "Andy Holsinger, elementary education major, and future teacher." Though many months have passed since I made my lifelong commitment to education, the flaming passion that I have for young students and current educators burns even brighter. Since UW-SWEA's election night last October, there have been numerous attempts to undermine teachers' and students' commitment and abilities. At a time in our country's history where education has seemingly been cast into the shadows, we all must rely upon that internal flame to keep our students' education from disappearing into the darkness. Yet this is why our organization exists. I am so thankful for my predecessor, Sara Richter, and for the blood, sweat, and tears that she and her administration put into producing a strong and successful SWEA chapter at the University of Wyoming. Through her dedication, UW-SWEA has hosted teaching workshops, brought in venerated guest speakers, and provided members with opportunities to ready themselves as future teachers. Now that the reins have been passed to me, I fully commit to continuing where Sara's administration left off with the organization. In addition to providing opportunities for professional development, UW- SWEA will take on the additional role of education advocacy in the state. A large portion of time during our meetings consists of reviewing legislation on which the Wyoming Education Association is keeping its eye. WEA's Student Organizer, Coleen Haines, has proven to be an invaluable asset by clarifying how state legislation would impact our members as future teachers. We are so lucky to have Assistant UW Professor Tonia Dousay as our chapter's advisor. With her vast array of skills, ranging from technology to local connections, Tonia is UW- SWEA's nervous system, and we would be nothing without her. And of course, I would be nothing if it weren't for my officers: Alli Barker (Vice President), Taylor Kaisler (Secretary), and Alanna Reid (Treasurer). These ladies are wise beyond their years and help make our organization run like a well-oiled machine. For several of us – teachers and future teachers alike – we may have been so faithful to a plan that we were unwilling to consider that the unexpected could happen. Yet, the unexpected did happen in one way or another, and it took us just as much off-guard. Planning for the unplannable, expecting the unexpected—these acts are easier said than done. In our profession, the future is brimming with unknowns, with even more uncertainties waiting behind every dark corner. Never forget that we all have that passionate flame burning inside us. Alone, that flame may seem awfully dim; but when we come together as one, we can flood our world with a light so magnificent that even the darkest corner will be brightened forever. Embrace the flame. Shine. Consider the Unexpected