Jennifer Olivarez (aka J. Leigh Welteroth) , Seton Hill U class of 2001

Start with a brief bio that tells us first where you are now, then what your status was in college (e.g. "Creative Writing major, Volleyball player, Tetris fan, whatever.) Let your personality show.

My name is Jennifer (J.Leigh) Olivarez (Welteroth) and I moved to Arvada, Colorado (a suburb of northwest Denver) after college and have lived here for seven years. I love hiking and camping in the mountains and I wouldn’t trade Colorado weather for any other! For the last few years I have been working as a production assistant for a company that manages homeowners associations. I produce layouts and proofread newsletters for over 270 associations. The work is right up my alley: I was an English creative writing major with a minor in graphic design. I aspire to find an editing position in a more creative industry though!

Tell us where you thought you'd be now, back when you were a college freshman.

When I was a freshman in college I thought I would be an elementary school teacher. But I just kept taking English lit., creative writing and art classes and before I knew it, I had changed my major.

Describe your college experience in one word. Then elaborate in no more than five sentences.

Creative. I learned to appreciate and develop my own creativity. And I value the opportunity college gave me to experience my fellow students’ insights and share my own in collaboration.

Describe one very specific lesson from the college classroom that you'll never forget. Give us concrete details. Tell us not only what it taught you, but also how and why it worked.

Dr. Lynn Conroy’s Asian Philosophy Class: I remember there was a group of rather rowdy students who sat in the back and week after week would cause a disruption. And every week she would find a way to keep control of the class. This particular week, Dr. Conroy was teaching about Buddhism. I remember she showed us mala beads, Buddhist robes, and prayer flags. And she taught us to meditate, even the rituals of a meditation ceremony. She taught us how to hold our hands when we meditate and I still meditate that way. (While others learn these things at the temple, I’m always proud I learned to meditate in college.) You know, now that I recall, there was not a peep from the rambunctious group in the back of the class. Her lesson was that engaging. That’s how Dr. Conroy kept in control. She commanded our attention through interesting activities fueled by all the knowledge she has and the excitement she holds for the Far East and its people.

What do you know now that you wish someone would have taught you in school? How might that lesson best be taught?

Somehow even though I learned how to diagram a sentence in high school, a lot of grammar rules either didn’t stick with me or had never been taught. I’ve taught myself about proofreading and editing over the last seven years and often wish I could’ve taken a class on this subject in college. I think a lesson in proofreading could be part of the creative writing curriculum. I feel I’m a better writer now than I was in college because of it.

I also remember learning about the publishing industry and how to submit one’s work, but perhaps it would be worthwhile to also teach more to the undergraduates about what happens on the other side of the publishing industry (editing, proofreading, typesetting, etc.). I think in the least it would be beneficial for them to know what to expect in general once a manuscript is accepted for publication. Maybe inviting a guest speaker, an editor from a publishing house, could give students a broader perspective.

What teaching method(s) were you subjected to that never made a dent on your learning?

When a professor would assign students the task of teaching a section of the curriculum to the rest of the class, I never seemed to learn as much, though I appreciated the fresh perspective. With this method, I found that I learned a lot about my own topic, since I invested so much time and energy into it, but I never really learned as much about the other students’ topics. Often the only thing I got out of the other student presentations was a worksheet. And I’m sure they felt the same about my presentation.

What college experience did you find most displeasing at the time, but now recognize as an important contribution to your learning?

Portfolios were a major part of the Core Curriculum when I was in college. I thought it was a waste of time back then, because what future employer is going to care how I did on my term paper about William Blake?

I still keep portfolios; however, the term papers have long since been replaced by sample layouts and magazine articles. It taught me how to keep my career organized and to be prepared. Keeping a portfolio and resume current has kept me ready to seize any opportunity that may come my way.

What habits -- good and bad -- did you pick up in school, that you still continue to apply?

Good

• Walking to work (I used to walk to SHC—over the train tracks and up that giant hill!)
• Brainstorming
• Keeping a running to do list
• Reading, reading, reading
• Writing, writing, writing
• Researching

The bad habits:

• Too many to do lists
• Tendency to get involved in too many activities and projects

What do you miss about the college classroom, if anything?

I miss the variety of feedback and the exchange of ideas.

If there was one suggestion you would make to college teachers everywhere, what would it be?

Be excited about what you’re teaching and the class will be excited too.

THANK YOU, Jennifer! Congratulations on your success in Colorado and thanks for sharing your thoughts!

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