“What is your Favorite Part of Teaching?”
This question can ignite the passion of a dedicated teacher. Asking a teacher what their favorite part of teaching is, is the same as asking an actor what the best part of performing is, or a chef about crafting a delicate dish. The love and care are clearly visible when shared with others.
Jason and Meredith Christensen are genuinely interested in teaching and motivating young adults. This enthusiastic couple from Mapleton, Utah, came to our campus eager to discover and share moments with our students. They provided incredible lessons that changed our students’ perspectives in many areas. The Christensens have extensive experience in leadership and motivating teams. Let’s delve into their lives and the experiences they brought to our campus
“My Perspective Totally Changed”
Let’s be honest: we all have had a teacher who deeply impressed us. It might be someone at church, school, college, or even a family member who mentored us during critical moments. We have all had a great experience with a teacher who saw more in us than we saw in ourselves. They did what American writer William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) said: “Teaching is more than imparting knowledge; it is inspiring change.”
The key is to inspire change. For that to happen, both the student and teacher must be fully committed to their roles and willing to apply what they have learned. And yes, this has happened on our campus!
Leadership covers many topics: motivation, vision, emotional intelligence, and others. Among them is also persuasion. People are unlikely to agree with your ideas unless you can clearly articulate your thoughts. Rikuto, our student from Japan, changed his perceptions about persuasiveness after the class with Jason and Meredith. “I used to have a negative assumption about persuasion because it sometimes felt like I was pushing people to do something,” says Rikuto. “However, after attending their lectures, my perspective completely changed. I now strive to listen to others’ opinions and align with their perspectives with empathy, rather than persuading from my own viewpoint.”
This is the kind of experience that happens at Cumorah Academy. Students change their beliefs about the world and themselves, recognizing their potential and using it to build a new world. This is the kind of change that only amazing teachers can bring about.
“Being Involved with this Age Group is so Fun”
Jason and Meredith have a unique background that has taught them valuable lessons, and they’re using all they have learned to inspire this new generation. They served missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: Jason in Argentina and Meredith in Paraguay. Serving missions during their young adult years changed them deeply.
Meredith graduated from UVU with a degree in Spanish. Both Jason and Meredith graduated with high honors. In 2000, Jason founded NorthStar Alarm and served as CEO until early 2019. He oversaw the company’s growth from startup to over 60,000 active customers in 30 states nationwide. The couple has five children and has been married for 17 years.
Their journey to Cumorah Academy is quite interesting. Jason’s father’s best friend came once as a mentor, and Jason’s best friend came with his wife as a couple mentor. “We love to travel, and being involved with this age group is so fun,” says Jason. Meredith also loved being around our students: “It’s very invigorating to be around young people and just this age.” In fact, our students loved being with the Christensen family.
The Best Part of Teaching, for Sure
We started this post with the question: “What is your favorite part of teaching?” We asked this question to Jason and Meredith, eager to hear their thoughts on this crucial matter. Indeed, the classroom is at the heart of Cumorah Academy: it’s there that most of the change happens. Jason says: “The most rewarding thing is when I hear back from students and just being able to connect with them. Or hearing that I have made a difference.”
This answer reveals their true purpose for our students. Their love is visible and conveys a genuine affection for our students and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The world might be harsh sometimes, but having teachers like Jason and Meredith in our lives is a light of hope for the future. Our students are better than they were because of them.
Jason and Meredith shared their experience on campus:
Written by Fernando L. Ferreira Jr.
Photos by Camila Caraveo
Supervision by Kamila Uberto Fullmer
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