Life of a Fellow: Nastassja
We are so ecstatic that Nastassja has joined our team as a Fellow at Hill Freedman World Academy! There’s always certain things you expect when first onboarding to any new job, but once you’re there, that’s when your role comes to life. According to Nastassja, “When I was younger I was always taught that a teacher's job is to teach and a students job is to learn. From my first day as a Fellow, I immediately knew that statement couldn't be more wrong.”
FAFSA. College Applications. Scholarships. That is what I thought my daily job duties would be as a 12+ Fellow…
Little did I know, that was only a fraction of the jobs I would perform. The reality of it is, as a Fellow, I wear many different hats. I am an educator; I am an ally, a confidant, and sometimes even a beautician! I have the understanding now that no amount of accolades or hard skills written on my resume will amount to the sum of experience I have gained in the past six months.
I learned how to empathize and effectively communicate. As a trusted young adult in this space, students aren’t coming in to chat solely about college. Our students are at an age where they are finding themselves, which comes with a lot of questions and venting sessions. I cherish these conversations that allow me to connect with my students more. I pride myself in knowing them as more than just “students” or “teenagers.” They are people. They go through hard times, some have jobs, and most importantly, they have feelings. Being in this role has taught me to listen to the little things. Remembering small details like a favorite color or where they work aids in the process of building trust.
I learned how to be spontaneous and think outside of the box. Whether I'm creating fun icebreakers on a slow day, or planning an entire week of college events. I have learned flexibility; I roll with the punches. My favorite memory thus far has been Senior Portrait week. I was filled with joy as we transformed the Plus Center into a mini beauty salon. My site director became a make-up artist and I worked on curling hair! I shut my laptop for the day and fully focused on witnessing the joy and excitement in the air. As I walked the hallways returning smiles, fixing curls, and straightening ties I realized I was more than an educator.
It was at that moment that I knew…being a 12+ Fellow isn’t just about teaching, instructing, or advising the students. It’s about learning from them. It’s about listening when they speak, validating their feelings, and most importantly being their strongest ally!