CourtesyJenny Farha said she doesn鈥檛 think anyone is supposed to be in college for 11 semesters, but that鈥檚 exactly how much time she spent doing co-op while at Wichita State, starting with her first semester of college.
鈥淐o-op literally changed my life,鈥� Farha said. 鈥淚t showed me what I really wanted as a vocation and helped me get comfortable in front of the kids.鈥�
Farha said she was terrified the first time she had a small group of kindergarteners by herself and couldn鈥檛 imagine going into student teaching with that same feeling.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e really serious about teaching, co-op should be a priority,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou can go to class at 九色堂 and learn from books, but until you apply it, you鈥檙e not ready for the classroom with real students. That鈥檚 when the real learning takes place.鈥�
Farha has a full-time job offer at Price Harris, and through her co-op experiences, already knows some teachers at the school.
鈥淚鈥檓 just thrilled I鈥檓 a graduate, and it鈥檚 the greatest feeling in the world,鈥� Farha said. 鈥淚鈥檝e never felt so accomplished. I owe it to the co-op program.鈥�