December 9, 1999
FEATURES
15
Ballinger exercises brains with
jaijtivity
Everyday; people see Ms®7ancy
Ballinger running, swimming, danc
ing or breathing into the mouth of a
dummy with students following her
actions. Ballinger teaches ballet, aero
bics, First Aid, CPR
and swimming classes
at Brevard College. A
recent interview with
Ballinger, gave an in
depth look at her life
and classes.
Ballinger spent
seven years in Europe,
due to her father’s Air
Force career. D u r -
ing her time in Eu
rope, she visited and
lived in places like
Paris.
Currently, Ballinger resides in
Pisgah Forest with her husband,
daughter and son. Her children at
tended Brevard College in the last
three years. One graduated with a
B.A. in Environmental Studies and
the other in Wilderness Leadership.
“Their experience at Brevard College
was overall enjoyable,” said Ballinger.
Ballinger has resided
in Brevard 26 years. When
she first arrived in the state,
she taught at the public
school. “Public schools tell
you what and how you
must teach,” said
Ballinger. She left the pub
lic school to take a job as
a PE instructor at Brevard
College, preferring college
teaching because of the
personal freedom in the
classroom.
“I have enjoyed
teaching at the college; however, there
is one change I would make.” She be
lieves students need to become more
involved and motivated in classes and
activities. “Students are apathetic
about government, issues, campus
issues, caring for others and them
selves,” she said, “Students need more
respect and faith in themselves and
their abilities.”
With students studying and
working a majority of the time, physi
cal activity reinstates the balance be
tween mind and body, added
Ballinger. “If anyone is considering
taking one of my classes they should
do it to help relive stress and have
fun.”
Jaime Holbrook, an aerobics’ -stu
dents, thinks other students would en
joy Ballinger’s classes for their enter
tainment.
“Ballinger’s teaching techniques
are fun and energetic,” said Holbrook.
Many students have taken
Ballinger’s classes during her 18 years
of teaching at Brevard. When students
like Holbrook talk about Ballinger,
they remark she is a “helpful and con
siderate” person. With Ballinger’s
teaching techniques and personality,
she may continue to be one of
Brevard finest instructors.
3{app^
ur
3^reoarcfKamila