Stephenson strives to instill passion in students

by Isa Torres, staff writer

Professors are probably some of the most important people who can make an impact on students who are seeking a college major.

Dr. Sandra Stephenson says that she had a couple of professors like that during her college career, and now the influence they had on her is part of what she teaches to her students at South Plains College.

Dr. Stephenson is the daughter of a retired master sergeant in the United States Air Force. She was born in Forth Worth, Texas.

Since her father had to move from base to base, Dr. Stephenson got to travel with her family and see many places around the country and the world.

“I went to 12 schools in 12 years,” says Dr. Stephenson. “We moved around a lot.”

Moving a lot was something that Dr. Stephenson didn’t like.

“You don’t get too close to people,” she says. “You are not going to make that many close friends, because you are just going to leave them.”

Dr. Stephenson attended Abilene Christian University to get her bachelor’s degree in German and had two minors in English and education.

After her first year in college, she realized that she could do a great job of teaching. She helped a guy across the street to pass high school algebra so he could graduate.

“I realized that anything I know I can teach,” says Dr. Stephenson.

She graduated in December 1968 and the next month she started teaching at Abilene High School.

“I realized very quickly that to teach German I had to teach English grammar,” she said. “If I was going to do that, I might as well just teach English.”

After that, she opted to move to Amherst and teach there. That is when she decided to pursue a master’s degree in English.

“I was teaching “Beowulf” to my seniors, and I had no “Beowulf” background,” says Dr. Stephenson. “I started doing research myself (on “Beowulf”), and I thought if I am going to do this I am just going to go and get a master’s degree. I had to prepare myself.”

Dr. Stephenson enrolled at Texas Tech University to get a master’s, which she completed in 1973. She later earned a Ph. D. in 1977, with both degrees in English, with an emphasis on Shakespeare.

“I’ve worked hard to be good,” says Dr. Stephenson.

Dr. Stephenson says that she believes that people need to be passionate about what they do, especially if they choose to have a career in education. She also believes that educators need to find a level to teach on.

After getting married and starting to raise a family, Dr. Stephenson took nine years off from working and teaching to raise her two daughters. She said that she was very fortunate to have done that.

In 1992, Dr. Stephenson saw an employment ad for South Plains College and she applied to be an instructor.

“When I got hired here, it was like coming home,” says Dr. Stephenson.

Dr. Stephenson said that she works with great people and that she hopes to retire from SPC.

“You have to go with your sense of values,” Dr. Stephenson says.

In her case, she said that her values are not in money, but in doing what she loves doing.

“I want to have an impact on people’s lives,” says Dr. Stephenson. “It is wonderful”

She also believes that teachers have a big impact on people. That is a part of the reason that Dr. Stephenson has to teach.

“I find students to be totally fascinating,” she said. “I like to look at my students’ faces when something strikes them!”

For many, college is the last phase that will define the rest of their lives. Having professors who are passionate about what they teach is what can make a student passionate about learning.

Just like Dr. Stephenson found passionate teachers, she wants to instill that passion in her students so that many generations later that same passion can impact others.

           

* All Photos by Isa Torres/Plainsman Press