Motlow Smyrna Spotlight: Lisa Hardie

Interview by Ramona Shelton

Motlow Buzz Faculty Managing Editor

      For this issue of The Buzz, we spotlight Lisa Hardie, the PTK secretary, a peer tutor for the Writing Center, and an Honors student.

Lisa Hardie

 

Question: Tell us a bit about you.

Answer: "My name is Lisa Hardie. I was homeschooled. I love writing. I wanted to be an author and still want to be an author. Right now I am a Psychology major, and when I transfer to MTSU, I will add minors in Neuroscience and Writing."
 

Question: Why did you choose Motlow? What is your major/what do you want to be when you grow up?

Answer: "Tennessee Promise played a bit part in it. I am planning to transfer to MTSU. I’m glad I decided to come here because of the Honors college, the Writing Center, and all the other opportunities that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. Even though I “chose” it because of the Tennessee Promise, I wouldn’t have had those opportunities if I hadn’t come here."

Question: "What is your favorite thing about Motlow Smyrna?

Answer: "I love how small it is. You really get to know people and become friends with them. I’ve had great interactions with teachers. The small classes let us have more interactions. It’s like a small community."

Question: What is PTK? Can anyone join?

Answer: "PTK is Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society here at Motlow. A lot of people think it’s a sorority, but it is not a sorority. Anybody can come to the meetings as guests, but you have to be invited to join. You have to have a certain GPA and meet other qualifications. Please come to the meetings if you want to connect with us, and if you think your GPA is high enough, check with me and I’ll connect you with our campus advisor. If you get invited, maybe you can become an officer. All our officers are graduating this year, so this is the time to shoot for that if you get in. Keep in mind that you don’t have to be an invited member to participate in our meetings and events. Anyone can get involved. It’s a great way to connect with people."

Question: We see you at the Writing Center all the time. What do you do there?

Answer: "I tutor, so if someone comes in with a paper or any sort of writing, I can sit down and go over it with them. I am really passionate about writing. People have a tendency to think they aren’t good at writing, and all they really need is someone to boost them. I love being able to give them the confidence they need. Keep this in mind, there is no shame in getting help. I am a peer tutor, and I still gave my scholarship application to another peer tutor look over. And this applies to everybody. Professor Caviezel, the Writing Center Coordinator, told us not long ago that our academic dean, Elizabeth Fitch, got her to look over something she had written. It never hurts to have an extra set of eyes look over stuff!"

Question: Give us your number one writing tip.

Answer: "Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Leave yourself plenty of time to work on the assignment. Do not procrastinate. We have the Procrastination Monster in the Writing Center. Don’t let the Procrastination Monster get you!"

Question: What is your favorite part of being in the Honors program?

Answer: "Honors classes have a tendency to be even smaller than the rest of our classes, so it allows us to get closer to not just the students but also the teachers. We get to do things like have trips, and I’ve made some really good friends."

Question: What piece of advice would you give to a first-time, incoming freshman (i.e. What do you wish you had known on your first day here?)

Answer: "When you come in, it can be overwhelming and you might feel alone. Don’t rush to find friends because they may not be the ones you’ll have forever. Take the time to get your bearings and find out how things work. But get involved once you do get settled into your classes. Do what will help you in the future, so find a club or a group that interests you and will help you figure out what matters to you. Even if you don’t know what you want to do when you graduate, you can help figure it out by getting involved in clubs. If you don’t see something right off that interests you, don’t worry because the right one will find you. The Writing Center found me. If you are interested in writing and tutoring, come see us in the Writing Center. We are looking for peer tutors for the fall."

Motlow Smyrna Spotlight: Sara Stringfield

By Emma Sagor

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

            You may recognize this beautiful soul from the vibrant and fun outfits she wears here to school, often her themed leggings being a staple piece. Mrs. Sara Stringfield is an adjunct professor of Statistics here at Motlow Smyrna. She is one of the few people who gets to share her work environment with her husband James Stringfield, professor of English. If you don’t see her in class, you can often find her in the Student Success office, helping tutor students in math! I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with Mrs. Sara and ask her some questions for the student body to get to know her better. 

Question: Tell me about yourself? 

Answer: "I want the students to know that I truly care about their success as a human being. I look forward to every semester helping our student body achieve their academic goals. I love my cats. I have two. Their names are Benjamin Franklin after Benjamin Franklin of course and Sophie Germain after a famous French mathematician. I’m an animal person, with much love for them, and its just nice to have two little fur babies in our house -- in our home rather.

I love my kids and my family, and kindness is magic."

Question: What made you want to be a math teacher?

Answer: "I love helping people, not just students. I love helping people to problem solve and realize that every aspect of life is basically setting up a goal and an idea of how to get there."

Question: How long have you been teaching?

Answer: "I started teaching in 2002 as an undergraduate teaching assistant."

Question: What brought you here to Motlow?

Answer: "My husband Jay Stringfield teaches English, and he had let me know that their math lab here was looking for some help. I thought I’d give it a whirl."

Question: Did you teach anywhere prior to teaching here at Motlow?

Answer: "Yes, I taught briefly at Lancaster Academy, upper divisions mathematics at Laverne High, and introductory statics at Kansas State University."

Question: I heard you mention Kansas State, so does that mean you are not from here?

Answer: "No, my father was in the military. My parents live in Clarksville, and that is where I went to high school. Kansas State, an adorable town called the “Little Apple,” is where both me and Mr. Stringfield decided to attended graduate school together. We chose a school that had both a statistics and English program."

Question: That is so sweet. How long have you both been married?

Answer: (She has a huge smile on her face.) "We have been married for, gosh, it's been 12 and a half years. We met at an undergrad school at UT Martin and started dating in February of 2001. I love him so much! (She showed me the locket she had around her neck.) That’s me and him! (She pointed to the pictures on the inside.) He picks me up everyday, and even when he doesn’t have class, he will still drive me into work. I love him!"

Question: Do you have someone who inspires you, and why?

Answer: "I would have to say each member of my family -- my husband and my children each for different reasons. My husband inspires me to always be me! No matter how many times I ask him, should I do this, or what if it is too weird, he always says, 'I will support you. You got this!' He inspires me to be me. And my children, Monroe and Ava Grace, inspire me to be a good mom and a good human, because they look up to me. I hear them repeat things I say, and I have to be a good role model for them. I have to inspire them, too, because they are the future."

Question: What advice would you give for success -- whether in life in general or success in a particular area?

Answer: "Always keep it real. Be true to yourself. Honestly is always the best policy. And be kind."

Question: What is your favorite quote?

Answer: "Anything by Ben Franklin. I have a huge crush on Ben Franklin. You can quote that, and yes, Mr. Stringfield is aware. You can put that in there, too. I love him."

Question: What is your favorite thing about math?

Answer: "I love that it is a universal language."

Question: Do you have a favorite math equation?

Answer: "Yes! The equation for the volume of a sphere (Fourthirdspir3). It is also my username for both Instagram and Twitter! You should go follow me."

Question: It has been a pleasure interviewing you for The Buzz! Do you have any final words you would like to say?

Answer: "Come by the math lab! Got to put a plug in there. We help and serve our student body. We are located in the Student Success suite, and we look forward to seeing you!"