By SEANEEBA THOMPSON
A graduating childhood special education major already has a job working at New Meadow pre-school in Malta, N.Y.
Jasmine James, 22, also concentrated her studies in French and Spanish during her four years at The College of Saint Rose while taking full advantage of what The College had to offer.
“I know that I always wanted to work with kids. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to be a teacher, but in some way I knew that I would end up working with kids,” said James.
As Saturday’s graduation approaches, James has already landed her job as a part-time teacher. A friend and former Saint Rose graduate who is a full time teacher at New Meadow pre-school told James about the open positions.
“I have worked closely with her for almost five years as a mentor and peer, and have found her extremely competent and enjoyable to work with. She is bright, easy to work with, and trustworthy. When introduced to new challenging experiences she works efficiently to learn the steps needed and she is able to succeed,” said Justin Thompson, a close friend.
James explained how as a freshman it was hard to adapt to a new environment and know if being at Saint Rose was something she really wanted to do. Hailing from Syracuse, it was her first time away from home and her family, and it left her unsure of several things.
“As time went on I started to participate in activities. I did Friday Knights and volunteered for Help Yourself Academy, and also did work study and other things throughout campus and through that I was able to gain more interest in Saint Rose,” said James. “Now I love it and I’m happy I chose to stay here.”
James came in to Saint Rose in 2009 as a Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) student and her academic counselor Natalie Grandy-Cable said it was her goals that drew them to her and became the reason they accepted her. Throughout James’ four years she remained close with the HEOP office doing her work-study there, even becoming a peer counselor for their summer program.
The program is for all HEOP’s incoming freshman. It’s in week in the summer and students take about four classes. The purpose of the summer program is to prepare students for their college experience.
“We really look for leadership, students that are really giving back to the program, and they know how important it is to be apart of the program and use our services, coming to academic counseling, tutoring and are doing well academically students have to have at least a 2.5 GPA,” said Grandy-Cable.
Although James’ job as a peer counselor is over, that doesn’t mean she has stopped counseling. One of James’ now close friends and roommates was one of her mentees from when she was a peer counselor.
“We had a really good friendship and I trusted her,” said Amanda Green who is also a sophomore education major at Saint Rose.
Another goal on James’ list was to study abroad. James said she never thought it was something she would actually get a chance to do, but it was on her list of things to do. In the spring semester of 2012, she went to France. James said it was like freshman year again; sad, homesick, and alone, but because of her host family things got better.
“I will remember her sense of adventure that she took great advantage of being a college student and engaged in all kinds of activities and study abroad options and I really respected that sense of adventure,” said Mary Fitzsimmons, director for the HEOP/AOE program.
James was accepted into the Kappa Delta Pi National Honors Society, which is an educational national honors society for teachers. It allows teachers to receive specific benefits such as scholarship opportunities and discounts for several things teachers may need.
She was also awarded the Sister Elizabeth Farley Award in April at the Saint Rose award ceremony. The award is for showing dedication and giving back your time.
James said she has no plans on returning back to Syracuse, and as she continues to work at the New Meadow pre-school, she is hoping to attend SUNY Albany’s graduate program with the hope of joining their educational administrative program and one day becoming a principle or superintendent.
