Can you imagine teaching someone anything, and learning from that person anything in return? A few semesters ago I learned how to rap from a dining hall staff member, and I taught them various modern day dances circulating through popular media. I know this sort of partnering was modeled after a program started at Swarthmore College, but when Bryn Mawr College participates in education related conferences, many universities and colleges are blown away about our structured educative program called Teachers Learners Initiative. This program is geared to giving everyone a chance to learn something that they may not have otherwise had the time, or chance to learn. A few semesters ago, I co-taught a MAC computer course to staff members. Each staff member had a student partner, and each week they had an assignment to work on together. We would later come back to class the following week and show what we worked on. Greatest of all, we teachers would not have the answers at all times, and so, we would show staff members how to sort of self-teach as well- in other words, YOUTUBE and about.com were your best friends.

Apart from that, weekly, the students would meet to discuss their weekly experiences. Sometimes you may encounter hardships with your partner, or questions may arise. I always experienced intense debates within my partnership because my partner was in love with “old school hip-hop”, and I, myself, am more into current day music that my partner was not able to identify with as much. We would often debate about which one is better. The small group meeting provided a genuine safe space for students to talk about the dynamics of their partnerships. If a student had controversial opinions about a certain topic, no one ever attacked the student. It was an intellectual, heartfelt space where your thoughts could be challenged, and this truly did help for so many people to grow as individuals.

At the end of the semester, there is one big meeting that mirrors the last small group meetings I mentioned, but this one includes the staff members and faculty. Everyone at TLI wishes that there were more meetings like this one, but everyone does have to work, and not all staff members and faculty can sacrifice many hours of the work day, which is understandable. There are so many rich interactions that take place in this program, and one can only wish for more time.

This time around, I will be taught different ways to manage stress, while I teach dance again. I am really excited about this partnership this upcoming semester, and I will cherish it, as it will be my last before graduation.