Page Four
THE BENNETT BANNER
FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1978
’ •
j
» •
» •
I#
M.
Smith Gives Language Majors Advice
by Marion Johnson
From assistant to Dr. Hortensia
Sanchez-Boudy of Spanish during
her sophomore year, Cheryl Woods
Smith (Cheri) ’69, is now the co
ordinator of a Spanish program
and learning resource center at the
Berean Institute in Philadelphia,
Penn.
Upon entering Bennett, Cheri
was an elementary education ma
jor with a concentration in Span
ish. But during her sophomore
year she decided to change to a
Spanish major. Cheri had always
wanted to work with Hispanic
people. “Through Bennett’s small
classes, oral examinations and the
individualization of instruction I
received the confidence I needed,”
said Cheri.
After class Cheri worked in Dr.
B'oudy’s office which aided her in
improving her Spanish conversa
tion. “It has been my experience
to meet many language majors
who can read and write the lan
guage, but cannot speak it,” said
Cheri.
Cheri began teaching Spanish in
the Camden, New Jersey school
system but realizing that this was
not fulfilling enough she resigned
and became a bilingual teacher in
the Centennial school system.
“When reflecting on career
goals and decisions Cheri re
marked, “I feel that it is important
for a person to search his/her in
terests and strengths. In many
areas, companies will sponsor
Career Fairs. These are usually
very informative and enlighten
ing in terms of the current job
market and talents that will be
needed in the future. One should
have a specialized area of study
that can be used in non-traditional
areas.”
During the summers, 1965-1969,
Cheri worked in the Philadelphia
school system as a teacher’s aide.
Upon graduation from Bennett
Cheri was offered a job because of
her experience. When students
prepare for a career, Cheri stress
ed the need to include everything
of a positive nature on the res
ume. Also once a person has de
cided on a career he/she should
do adequate research into the
field. This could be done through
observation and reading.
If a student is preparing for a
career in a field similar to Cheri’s,
she offers them this advice, “I
would advise students first to
learn to speak the language and
be able to use it in every day life
situations. Also, do not limit your
self to one category of your major.
For example, a language major
can become a teacher, professional
translator, a professional tutor or
enter into various other careers.”
Being a Black and a woman has
proved to be a handicap and a
benefit for Cheri. “In my experi
ence I have found my race to be
both a handicap and a benefit.
While working in an all-white
school district as a bilingual teach
er, I found myself having to stand
up for Hispanic students and
many times represent them and
their community. There seemed to
be a hesitation in listening to my
suggestions. It is a very peculiar
situaiton when you, as a minority,
are expected to represent another
minority.”
Life at Bennett was filled with
many heart-warming and touch
ing experiences for Cheri. The
most vivid of these memories is
the ‘fireside’ chats given by Pres
ident Isaac Miller.
“Throughout the meeting he had
the ladies to teU about themselves
and their goals. After finding out
what we were all about, he opened
the floor for questions and dis
cussion. I stated that now he knew
all about us and now it was time
for him to talk about himself! It
caught him off guard; however,
he did respond. To this day, when
he sees me he refers to the inci
dent,” said Cheri.
When asked if she would do it
over again at Bennett, Cheri said
without hesitation, “Definitely
yes."
In stating the things that have
motivated her to become as suc
cessful as she has, Cheri says it is
three things: her parents, her hus
band and herself.
“My parents are enterprising
business persons who have always
instilled in me to get ahead, to
stay ahead and to get the ‘bucks’.
They taught me that there is no
substitute for a job well done and
I have tried to manifest this in
all my employment endeavors,”
said Cheri.
When speaking about her hus
band’s role in her motivation,
Cheri said, “My husband, being
secure in his own professions (the
ministry and real estate) encour
ages me to go as far as I can
because it is not a threat to his
masculinity but a complement to
the “US” that we have created.
He lends a listening ear to my
everyday frustrations and is al
ways there for me to lean on.”
In keeping with these remarks,
Cheri believes it is possible to in
corporate a career with marriage.
“I think that two people who have
the same goals can handle career
and marriage. There are times
when I have to completely sep
arate my work and my family life.
One must constantly keep in mind
that problems at work should not
be brought home and vice versa.”
The final source of Cheri’s moti
vation comes from within herself.
“My motivation to succeed also
comes from within. For me it is
not important that I be recognized
or set apart, but what is important
is that I know within myself that
I am qualified, that the job is
being done and it is being done
weU.”
Special Education Major Happy in Field
Teaching, Marriage Good Combo
by Sheila Purnell
Is it possible to reconcile mar
riage with a career? Denise Smith,
E d u c a b 1 e Mentally Retarded-
Learning Disability (EMR-LD) re
source teacher who graduated
from Bennett College in 1977, feels
it is possible. “Teaching and mar
riage are ideal together because
you’re home on holidays and for
the summer. It’s a good career if
you have children—while you are
at school, so are they; and you still
spend a great deal of time with
them,” said Denise.
Denise Smith’s major at Ben
nett College was special education.
She had planned to be a teacher
while she was a student. She also
planned to go on to advanced
study after college. Bennett helped
her to prepare for her present
career because of the field trips
and role-playing in the classroom
and the making of educational
materials.
Jimmy Faison, instructor of
special education, was very help
ful to Denise while she was at
Bennett. “Mr. Jimmy Faison in
spired me the most.” She said,
“Whenever I had a problem, I
would always go to him. He was
always willing to listen and give
advice.”
Denise’s mother and her hus
band motivated her to succeed.
Her race or her sex were of no
significance in her career. Denise
feels she was hired because of her
experience and graduate courses
in learning disability.
If Denise could do it all over
again, Bennett College would be
her choice. Her most vivid mem
ory of Bennett is walking to Black
Hall at 8 o’clock on cold mornings.
She has kept up with Bennett
College and she would like to
comment on a change that she
thinks is a good one. “I am happy
to hear that a new course will be
added to the curriculum for spe
cial education. The course, Diag
nostic and Evaluation, is badly
needed for the students because
it will give them an insight into
the various tests used in diagnos
ing a child’s learning disability.”
Denise’s philosophy of life that
has guided her is something that
her mother has always told her,
“You can be or do anything you
want to, if you really want to.”
Denise advises all Bennett Belles
“To select a career with a good
future outlook. No college can pre
pare you for everything; therefore
one must take some initiative. Do
a lot of outside reading and attend
meetings related to your career.”
She gave some very special advice
to all special education majors
that she thinks will help to pre
pare them for the career that she
has now: “read all available
sources of information dealing
with Special Education.”
IBM NEEDS
OLTTSTANDENG
PE»n>E
And we can offer outstanding
career opportunities in Marketing.
We will be interviewing at
Bennett College
on February 1, 1978
To find out about IBM and let us
find out about you, sign up for an
interview at the Placement Office or
write to: C. E Cammack, Corporate
College Relations Manager,
IBM Corporation,
400 Colony Square, Suite 1111,
Atlanta, Georgia 30361
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
/-