Learning about Health and Wellness in KING 2000

Nora Helton, KING 2000 student, as a dental services volunteer, RAM, Union County, TN, 11/15/09


I saw a different side of one of my students over the weekend at RAM. This young woman has missed several KING 2000 sessions, but was 100% present in the rugged clinical atmosphere of the Remote Area Medical Clinic in Maynardville, TN.

This week's health and wellness presentations allowed me to see the same sort of transformation of all my transfer seminar students, who were trying very hard to please me and also to give important information to their peers.

When I watch presentations, my "English teacher" kicks in. I wish that were not the case. I can certainly tell you what the students could have done better in their PowerPoint presentations and the brochures they made.

HOWEVER, there were some noteworthy positive aspects to yesterday's presentations:

1. They took the mandate of the assignment seriously, finding and presenting truly life-saving information to the class.

2. They were undaunted by technical medical terms and completely comfortable with all sorts of information about body parts--quick to demonstrate when that was appropriate, eager to make sure their peers understood the risks and dangers of unhealthy lifestyle choices.

3. Several were very vulnerable as they shared personal stories of family members who had experienced the health challenges they were presenting. This honesty drove their points home in ways that were both poignant and memorable.

4. They bonded in their groups. There was actually a warm feeling in the class.

My conclusions: This is a valuable assignment. We should definitely keep it in the course, and we should probably move it to the first month of class to help the students make for themselves small communities of learners across disciplines.