Jessica Parker, a freshman guard on Eastern’s women’s basketball team, still learning about the way the team works.

Fast-forward to after she graduates and she wants to be the one teaching, only she hopes the students she is teaching are a little bit younger than college age.

Parker, a future elementary school teacher, said she enjoys watching youngsters progress as they learn new information, which is why she said she wants to teach students between kindergarten and second grade.

“I don’t want to teach just one subject like a high school teacher would,” Parker said.

Parker said she has been inspired by her brother, Ryan’s, second grade teacher at Summit Elementary School, Tammi Klein.

Parker spent two hours everyday of her senior year helping out in Klein’s classroom where she learned valuable lessons from the experienced teacher.

“I learned a lot from her about different teaching methods for different children, dealing with different situations, and most importantly how sometimes you just have to laugh because that’s all you can do,” Parker said.

Parker got to experience a new situation when the team visited Kreitner Elementary School in Collinsville in early January. Parker said being at a school where English is the second language was a unique experience.

“It really showed me how diverse we are becoming,” Parker said.

Parker has played a lot of basketball in her life, and said she hasn’t ruled out coaching as well as teaching; however, she said she wouldn’t just want to coach second grade students.

“I also want to try coaching,” Parker said. “Kids of any age.”

Parker said some of the lessons she has learned playing basketball are good tools for teaching. For example, Parker said listening is key in basketball, just like it is key in teaching.

“Basketball has definitely taught me a lot about teaching,” Parker said.

Parker said in basketball communication is important. She said communication is also important as a teacher.

Only a freshman, Parker said she has not yet chosen a concentration in teaching, but said she is considering history.

Q: Favorite Facebook application?

A: Family Feud

Q: Favorite Disney princess?

A: Cinderella

Q: Favorite word?

A: Shopping

Q: Is the glass half-full or half- empty?

A: Half-full!

Q: What is something you would like to try/experience during your life?

A: Sky diving

Q: Who let the dogs out?

A: Jordyne Crunk let the dogs out

Q: What sound annoys you most?

A: Nail files and the sound when you scrape your teeth with a fork

Q: Have you ever laughed so hard you cried? When?

A: Yes, every time I laugh

Q: Of any athlete in the world, whom do you most want to play against?

A: Lebron James

Alex McNamee can be reached at 581-7944 or admcnamee@eiu.edu

Zach Schafer, 8, celebrates after winning a gift basket containing a video game programming kit and candy Saturday at the Students Involved with Technology Conference for Kids in Buzzard Hall. The conference included third to 12th grade students and was s

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