News
Student Spotlight: Lorraine Lawyer ‘27 (English as a Second Language)
At Roberts Wesleyan University, we're all in for shaping confident, competent, and courageous leaders. Meet one of our undergraduate students, Lorraine Lawyer, who's following her one-of-a-kind calling in Teaching English as a Second Language.
What’s your calling? What’s one of your career goals?
My calling is teaching and serving in ministry. I am the most content serving others and helping them grow. As a future teacher, I desire to truly get to know my students for who they really are and know how to meet their needs best.
Lorraine dogsitting Bandit
How has studying at Roberts helped you grow in character?
Studying at Roberts has helped me grow in my independence and taught me to manage my time and priorities.
Plus, Roberts has helped me open my eyes and perspective to others who hold slightly different views than mine. Even getting to know how other Christians think has been a benefit in my understanding of other people’s perspectives.
Lorraine was on the Track and Field team her freshman year
What is the best thing about studying your major?
I enjoyed it when my class went to Mary Cariola for our Foundations of Special Ed class field trip. It was such an eye-opening experience to observe a classroom environment.
I've also learned so many interesting concepts in some of my classes, such as how kids develop mentally, physically, and biologically. I’ve also enjoyed the community of other people in my major. I’m really excited to complete field hours for my major and get more hands-on experience.
What course (so far) has been your favorite?
I’ve enjoyed my Spanish class the most. I hope to be more proficient and be able to communicate with others in Spanish. [This program has] helped me understand deeper concepts.
I enjoy learning more about their culture and how to interact with those who speak Spanish. I've always had the desire to be a missionary. One time, a missionary visited my church and mentioned how she could use her degree in teaching English as a second language for mission trips.
Who is your favorite professor?
My favorite professor is Adjunct Professor Tor Nielsen. I had him for my Writing and Research class. I always enjoyed our conversations after class, and even after he was no longer my professor, I would visit him in his office and catch up on life in college.
What is your favorite quote or verse and why?
My favorite verse is Philippians 4:6, which says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
This verse resonates with me because I struggle with a lot of anxiety in my day-to-day life to the point where it inhibits me from functioning normally on any given day. This verse helps to remind me that God is in control, and I don’t need to keep trying to fight for control because God knows what is best for me.
Faculty Feedback
"I first met Lorraine Lawyer in Fall 2023 when she was a student in my Writing and Research course. I soon appreciated her joyful spirit and the fact that I could always count on her to share her opinion during class discussions. She, like myself, is a lover of languages, and we would often chat before or after class about what she was learning in the Spanish class she was taking that semester. I am confident that Lorraine will make a lasting impact wherever her career leads her."
-Tor Nielsen, Adjunct Professor, Language and Literature
Are you ready to go all in like Lorraine?
Click here to learn more about our English as a Second Language degree.