Juniors in TMU’s School of Education spent a day learning the importance of finding “marigolds” in the field of education. Dr. Patsy Lewis, associate professor of education, shared an article that encouraged TMU’s teachers-to-be to find older teachers who will encourage and uplift them as they begin their careers.
The Marigold Effect stems from the knowledge that marigolds help every plant around them to prosper. Planting marigolds as companions to most garden vegetables ensures that the plants will grow healthy and strong.
“As a new teacher, one of the most important things we can do is locate those people who will help us to bloom where God has planted us. Teaching is an extremely difficult profession, and it is often viewed in a negative light,” Dr. Lewis shared, “I want my students to embrace the challenges and plant themselves deeply in God’s word. Finding the marigolds will sustain them as new teachers in the face of these tremendous challenges.”
She shared Scripture, reminding the junior class of their calling to teach and that God will equip them as they pursue their calling.
“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” – Hebrews 13:20-21
The class concluded the time by planting marigolds to give as gifts to their placement teachers. Maddie Castleberry, a junior education major, shared, “The biggest takeaway from planting the marigolds was being able to visualize who I would like to be as a teacher. I enjoyed getting to give my mentor teacher the marigold, as I would classify her as a positive influence in the classroom!”
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