Insightful 8th grade views on the best parts of Jersey County
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By Valerie Belusko | University of Illinois Extension community and economic development educator
Submitted photo
8th graders shared their views on the best parts of Jersey County.
Monday, May 13, was the last installment of this year’s workforce development training for 8th graders led by myself, Illinois Extension Community and Economic Development Educator Valerie Belusko. Over the previous four months, students have learned about telephone etiquette for business, nonverbal communication through body language, and the importance of networking. On this day, we reviewed what we learned and collected valuable data regarding the students’ perception of the lessons and retention of material.
In the last 10 to 15 minutes of class time, I used the opportunity to ask a few questions. I wanted to know what they believed was the most challenging aspect of school, what advice they would offer new students to help them adjust, and what they enjoyed most about Jersey County. While all their responses were intriguing, I was particularly interested in their thoughts on the community.
There were a lot of duplicate responses that deserve to be highlighted.
Food must have been on these teenagers’ minds because there were many shout-outs to local restaurants, including Los Tres Amigos, McCarry’s Dairyland, Nick’s Pancake House, Steve’s Old Cabin BBQ, and Germania Brew Hause! Not only did the students comment about how great the food was at these locations, but many also mentioned the amazing staff!
Nature and ease of livability were also important themes highlighted by the students. Many students commented on the community’s cleanliness and mentioned fresh air, room to move and explore, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, wildlife, and family farms. (This made me smile. I love nature and often work with kids who think big city living offers so much more. While that may be true in some respects, I don’t think anything can beat peace, serenity, and nature!) Students also highlighted the beautiful parks, parades, and the upcoming summer fair.
Community support and a caring atmosphere were the leading responses when asked about the best part of Jersey County! Don’t be fooled; these students recognize how much their teachers, community members, leaders, and first responders do for their community! When you show up to support these students at school and sporting events, they notice! When you show up to help families going through tragedy or loss, they notice! When you are friendly, understanding, and compassionate…. THEY NOTICE!
Extension and community leaders are dedicated to building a thriving community for future generations. Recognizing the values and priorities of the younger demographic is essential in community planning efforts. Continue to set an excellent example for the youth in this area because they are watching and learning from your examples.
Jersey County should be proud of these amazing 8th graders. I know I am!
For more information about personal, organizational, and community resilience techniques, contact me (Valerie Belusko), at [email protected] or call 217-532-3941. I serve Christian, Jersey, Macoupin, and Montgomery counties.
ABOUT EXTENSION: Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities.
