Throughout childhood and adolescence, many people ask, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Travis Bolinger hoped to become a marine biologist or a pilot, but when the time finally did arrive, Travis felt a different calling for his life — education.
“Science was my best class in middle school and high school,” Travis said. “When I was making the decision regarding what I wanted to do the rest of my life, I knew family was important to me, and I knew I wanted to make a positive impact on others. Education seemed like the right fit.”
Travis, a 2004 elementary education major with a middle school science teaching endorsement, began working immediately upon graduation. He first started teaching seventh grade science at Salamonie Middle School in Huntington, Ind. After a year, Travis moved to Crestview Middle School, also located in Huntington, where he works as the seventh grade science teacher.
“Many people seem surprised that I enjoy working with middle school students,” he said. “They always ask how I can have the patience to deal with the drama of the middle school years. The way I deal with the challenges of this age group is by remembering to be young at heart and to show an interest in some of the same things that interest my students. I also try to always encourage my students and help them develop a sense of belonging in my classroom.”
Travis aspired to make a positive impact on others. After realizing how much he enjoyed working with teenagers as a camp counselor and his love for science, he quickly discovered what he wanted to do with his life — teach middle schoolers.
“I enjoyed working with students near this age group, and I could see it was important for students of this age to have a positive influence in their lives,” Travis said. “The middle school years can be a difficult time for a lot of individuals, but it is also a time where students develop independence and begin to shape their world view.”
In the classroom, Travis tries to bring real world issues to life for his students through project-based learning assignments. Students form groups to discuss various scientific topics and must conduct research on how they think a situation could be improved.
Travis and the rest of his colleagues in the science department at Crestview also received a grant for several Lego Mindstorms robotics kits. The faculty uses these kits to teach engineering and technology. Students work in small groups and get the opportunity to build and program a robot to overcome a challenge or task. This unit involves problem solving and creative thinking and focuses on project-based learning. Travis finds it rewarding to see students work together to accomplish their goals and overcome this challenge.
Looking back on his time at HU, Travis feels the education department prepared him well to thrive in his classroom and with his students.
“Huntington University provided a good balance between course content and field experience,” he said. “When discussing the classroom experience before graduating with current colleagues, I realized HU provided a far greater amount of experience compared to other universities. HU also placed me in the classroom early during my school career
and this helped me solidify if education was the field I was meant to pursue.”
During a campus visit, Travis observed the professor-student interactions and found it intriguing to see how the professors took the time to invest and learn more about their students.
“The professors genuinely want to know about our lives,” he said.
Travis also felt encouraged by the intentional efforts of the university to intertwine the Christian faith in every facet of the college experience. Whether it be prayer from an education professor before class or a chapel service, Travis found it difficult not to grow spiritually.
“HU stretched my outlook regarding stewardship,” Travis said. “Caring for the environment and the creatures of the earth God placed in our care is an important task I try to teach my own students. Having a classroom where students are immersed in an environment where they can observe and interact with living creatures is something I take pride in.”
Eight years out of college, Travis enjoys going to work and educating young minds about the environment — a plan he knows God had in the works.
“You need to follow your passion and regardless of where you end up, God can do great things with your life,” he said. “I loved my college experience and will always cherish the friends and memories I made during my time at HU.”
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