Feature Article

Education expert, Kristen Nieslawski, on keeping focused to win the prize

This is an in depth look at a student who has conquered many obstacles to obtain what is most valuable to her. Kristen Nieslawski, a 22 year student at Benedictine University opens up about her childhood and what led her to be a devout student. Shockingly, Nieslawski talks about how broken she was due to a disease that causes blindness. Glaucoma is something she has had to live with since she was five months old. Only one eye works.

Nieslawski also talks about family issues growing up and how she did not allow them to affect her studies. When asked about the role of an expert, Nieslawski’s responsed, “I see myself as someone who cares.  I am taking the knowledge I have and motivating others to continue with their education.  We will all win this way.” As you encounter Nieslawski’s story, please keep an open mind and let her story be inspiring to you as you journey down the road of education.

How did you enter this world? Broken…when I was five months old, the doctors discovered I had Glaucoma, which is a disease that causes blindness. Only one eye worked.  I have had to wear corrective lenses since I was nine months old.

What is it like to have only one eye?  Because I haven’t known anything different, this is normal to me. It is just like someone who is born with one arm or leg; it’s all they have ever known.

What other obstacles have you had? When I was a toddler, my parents got a divorce. Because my mother was sent overseas for the war in Desert Storm, I lived with my dad in Wisconsin.  When she returned, I moved to Illinois.  There were many conflicts with the step parents as both of my parents remarried and had other children.

How did you feel?  I became bitter.  I was the only child for nine years.  Now, I had to share my life with a sister and two brothers.  I decided early on that bitterness only hurts me.  So, I chose to focus my attention on education.

When did you realize education was important?  At an early age, I learned that education was important.  Although I spent time with friends, I made my school work a priority.  I wasn’t perfect, but I made a promise to myself to make wise choices so that I could get to college.

The dictionary defines expert as displaying skill or knowledge derived from training or experience.  Do you think you fall in this category?  I think if you ask a scholar, I am probably not an expert because I am so young.  But, if you ask my fellow schoolmates, I am.  I have acquired knowledge both from training and experience.  The dictionary doesn’t give a timeframe to acquire these things.

Why do other students refer to you as the “Education Expert?”  I suppose it is because that is all I talk about.  I believe education is an opportunity in this country.  If you spend more time with me, it won’t be too long before I am grilling you about your education and future plans.  You see…I believe education plays a significant role in everything that we do.  It gives us knowledge.  It opens doors to success; it helps us to understand each other.  Education moves us from what we are to what we want to be.

How do you see yourself in this role as an expert?

I see myself as someone who cares.  I am taking the knowledge I have and motivating others to continue with their education.  We will all win this way.

How do you motivate others?  In my spare time, I tutor students in a range of subjects.  I also spend time with students who feel like they can’t do it anymore.  I am sometimes a counselor.  I encourage them to keep going.  I become their support.

Do students usually listen to what you have to say?  Yes.  They listen and they act on the action plan we set.  Although I have not actually kept track, I would say 95% of the students I speak or tutor continue with their education.

What types of students seek out your expertise?  I have spoken with many students from various backgrounds.  There are those who seem to have it all together but are in the midst of a breakdown.  Then there are others who are barely hanging on due to financial need or no family support.

How does that make you feel?  I run through two main emotions: sadness and joy.  It saddens me to see that those we call real experts don’t take the time to be supportive when students need it the most.  It also gives me great joy to be that support, to see the hope return to their faces, and to know I have made a difference.

What should high school students do to prepare for college?  The most important thing they need to do is change their view of education.  It shouldn’t be a thorn in their side that is putting a damper on their social life.  It should be a step towards success.

What is your philosophy behind education?  I believe knowledge is power.  Accumulated knowledge leads to wisdom, which is the ability to discern.  Wisdom can be applied to attitudes, beliefs, and actions.  I believe wisdom should be sought after more than riches.  Riches fade away; wisdom will be with you forever.

Did you reach your goals?  I graduated in 2007 and went to Peoria for my freshman year of college. Needless to say, I found my way back home where I attended Lincoln Land Community College and graduated with my Associate’s degree.  I was super excited. It was absolutely satisfying to know that I had finished two years of my undergraduate program.

A bout of independence.  I moved out after graduation and gained independence. Family members said I was an expert in education.  Although I did not see myself as an expert, I knew I had motivated them.  I felt like I added value to their lives.  But, I am not finished.  Experts must continue their education, and that’s what I plan on doing.

What happens next?  I have had my trouble days, but I have also had days where I feel like life couldn’t get any better.  I am now attending Benedictine University and working hard to get my Bachelor’s Degree.

What about your future?  I have a dream to move to the East coast and pursue a career in New York. On my journey, I plan to continue being a support to all those who need it and seek after it.  I will win the prize. Everyone will know that past circumstances do not have to dictate future success.  Education has been my saving grace, expert or not.

Kristen has come a long way and will be graduating in May of 2012. Good Luck to her!

--Kristin Jordan

Query:Comm 337

Doc Ellertsen

Benedictine University Communications Professor

Springfield, Illinois

Dear Doc --

Attached is a 1,000 word article for your consideration for publication in Benedictine University’s Informing Today, Transforming Tomorrow future student recruitment materials. The article is about a student that is attending Benedictine University.  It takes you through her trails and her accomplishments. This is a powerful article with a “can do” mentality.

Kristen Nieslawski is a role model for student’s at all different levels. When asked about her philosophy behind education, her response was enlightening. As stated in the article, she believes knowledge is power, and accumulated knowledge leads to wisdom.  She strongly believes that wisdom, which is the ability to discern, moves you into a place of continued opportunity.  Wisdom can be applied to attitudes, beliefs, and actions and should be sought after more than riches.  Her reasoning is that riches fade away, but wisdom will be with you forever.

This article sets the tone for recruiters to engage students in the furtherance of their education. It also gives readers a glimpse of the life of a young student searching for what life has to bring and successfully reaching the goals she has set. Nieslawski will graduate in May of 2012 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and will continue to pursue her education through work experience and a graduate degree program.

Some thoughts on photographs to follow...

Opinion Paper: Comm 337

Basing your opinions on the facts is the most significant piece of advice taken from this story. Mary Schmich did an awesome job collecting tons of facts to create an angle for this dramatic and heartbreaking story. The article clearly states her opinion in the last statement.  Schmich says, “But what happened to the Harrises should not have happened, not this way. To banish a family from its longtime home, so abruptly, without mercy and without help and with no proof of great crime, is simply wrong. It divides a divided city even more. Chicago is better than that.” Although a proper journalist is not supposed to mix feelings with work, I think this works well. She plainly incorporated her opinion in the last couple of sentences yet it was not openly reflected throughout the article.

This is a very interesting article choice. This entire situation is absurd. The article is extremely well written and captures real life moments from Mr. Harris and his family. As I began to read the article, the tone was set once I read the statement “Mr. Harris, standing in the middle of the house that he bought 41 years ago, that has lodged his large family through the neighborhood's gentrification, kept thinking: All you had to do was knock.” Forty cops showed up, barged in with guns and smoke bombs, and destroyed the house because of accusations from neighbors who just wanted to buy the land their house set upon. In the article, Mr. Harris stated, “Houses weren't just real estate. They were homes.” He was talking about the past when he and his family moved in some 40 years ago. You could feel the heartache through the written word.

Schmich collected a quote regarding the incident.  It stated, “This is an excellent example of the police and citizens working together." This statement implies that the working together was positive.  Well, I’m not quite sure that the gathering of 40 cops to destroy a house with smoke bombs without evidence can be described as a positive act of citizens working together.  I believe it was a waste of state money to “attack” citizens solely based on a rumor from dreadful neighbors. And, the article confirms that there was no evidence to support the neighbors’ accusations. The article specifically states, “No drugs, No guns, No dog fighting.”

As Schmich pieces together this story fact by fact, she discovers that not all neighbors believed this nonsense as truth.  Wendi Taylor Nations, one of the neighbors, says, "I've petted a couple of those pit bulls, who is active in animal-rescue causes and whose front window looks out on the tot lot and the Harris homes. I've never seen abuse, had there been, I would have been ahead of the police. We're just heartbroken for them." Another neighbor, Chris Swindells, states, "They're good people, I'm just so sad."  I’d like to know why an investigation didn’t take place before the police took action.  It is sad to me as well.

Fortunately, the mentality in Chicago is changing. The article depicts the stages of change.  It states, “What you've got is a different way of life, an old Southern way, or the old South Side of Chicago way. Now it's surrounded by the new way of life. It's a real collision of cultures." The unfortunate part is that families like Mr. Harris’ have to deal with the humiliation until the government morphs into a better organization. The article says it well, “no amount of money will erase the humiliation they went through.” Forcing a family out of their home is just absurd! They should have the right to stay and not be pressured by their awful neighbors and useless government. As Schmich said before, “Chicago is better than that!” Mr. Harris humbly revealed, “Sometimes, you just have to move on.” He is a very wise, 80 old man who has been treated with utter disrespect!

In Tim Harrower’s tips on how to write an editorial, he gives seven tips that work.  Keep it tight, keep it relevant, take a stand, attack issues and not personalities, don’t be a bully, control your anger, and write a strong lead with a solid finish. Schmich followed these ideas in a way. She kept it “tight.” While the article was a tad long, it was right to the point with short quick paragraphs. It was very relevant to the Chicago area. She defiantly took a stand by reporting this article and giving her opinion tagged to the end. Issues were discussed and personalities were displayed for characteristics; however, they were not attacked. Schmich was in no way being a bully in any ounce of what she wrote. She controlled her anger; she set her personal feelings aside and told a story based on researched facts. She wrote a strong lead and finished solid with her opinion.

            Don Murray is an inventive writer. I believe he would categorize Schmich’s writing as a form of craftsmanship. She put together an epic story using real facts and characters that defined her finished piece.  She followed each step in making sure her piece was successfully stitched together for the final outcome. Schmich used a different angle with this story as she unfolded four different sides of the story. She started with the Harris family, preceded to how the neighbors responded, entered into the police point of view, and finally, ended with her own opinion. There, definitely, was an issue that was handled in a wrong manner. When articles like these are published, it helps the public to see how the government is addressing issues.  It also allows the public to work towards changing policies for the better.  In addition, it gives the organization with the issue to take a look into their business practices and decide whether or not revisions need to be made.  In this case, the police department was the guilty party.  To diminish public humiliation, they can choose to take a look at their investigative practices and make a conscience decision to change for the better.  Once revisions are in place, they can publish another article informing the city of the changes in hopes of rebuilding their reputation.  All parties involved would benefit from the publication of Schmich’s article.  In a perfect world, all parties would agree that the publication is a benefit.