One of the perks of my job is that I get the opportunity to speak with IEW students from various walks of life, all pursuing their dreams. Nothing is quite as inspiring and powerful as listening to an individual who knows what she wants to do and has the skills to achieve it. This week I was able to speak with Jenny Cardinale, who is a recent graduate of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I was homeschooled from the very beginning all the way to the end of high school. This past month I graduated from Liberty University with a degree in photography and Judaic studies. So right now I am in that post-graduation phase of life. It’s a big transition, but I started my own photography business, so that’s what I’m focusing 100% on right now.
What are your plans for the future?
I teach dance on the side right now, but I want photography to be my main occupation in the future.
How old were you when you started IEW?
I started using IEW when I was in second grade. I remember the first paragraph I wrote was about pigs.
Did you feel your IEW training helped during college?
Absolutely. The training I received from IEW’s foundation gave me a really good grasp on writing. So when I had these super long 12- to 20-page papers, I just knew, “All right, I can do it!” It wasn’t daunting at all. I credit IEW with the success I had writing papers in college. I think if I remember correctly, I got an A on almost every paper in college.
My roommate would even ask me to read her papers because she knew I knew what to look for. I wouldn’t consider myself a writer…but IEW makes you a writer.
What was your favorite IEW course?
I think one of the biggest things IEW did for me was through Windows to the World. It was a very challenging book, but it was my favorite—I even brought it to college. Because it challenged me, my writing grew to a whole new level. Even though Windows to the World is more literary analysis, it helped me with lots of papers I had to write.
Do you think you’ll use your writing skills much in your future work?
A lot of people think that if you don’t go into writing you won’t need to use it, but that’s just wrong. You use writing in every profession you go into. For me, I have to write contracts for clients in my photography business and also for general communication. I may not be writing a lot, but writing is the foundation for verbal communication, which is why I feel IEW has helped my overall communication skills.
What one piece of advice would you give your younger self?
To enjoy learning to write more and to understand how important it is. I’ve taught dance in several homeschool co-ops, and I have seen how the kids often don’t really take their education seriously. I would tell myself that communication affects my future and to take it more seriously—but to remember to have fun.
Education is in no way an easy task, whether you are teaching your own kids or someone else’s. It can be tempting to set aside writing and communication in favor of seemingly more important subjects. However, your students’ communication and writing skills are invaluable. According to a recent study, the number one thing employers look for is communication skills. Jenny was right when she said, “You use writing in every profession...” No matter what your students will grow up to do, they will need the communication skills that you are working so hard to instill.
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Growing up in the Pudewa family, Christopher Pudewa was exposed to the IEW method from a very young age. During high school he had the privilege of competing in the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association, where he was able to apply the skills he had learned through IEW. Chris is currently attending the University of Oklahoma, majoring in Criminology and Psychology. |
