Jude was the student that I turned to when someone in class asked a particularly challenging question outside of the class material. If there was someone else in the room that knew the answer besides myself it was going to be Jude. In both my AP Chemistry class his sophomore year and his AP Physics C class this his senior year, Jude has served as my teaching assistant of sorts. His participation in class discussion is not effusive, however, it is timely and always thoughtful and intended to be helpful. Jude has an innate ability to understand complex topics, a work rate to dig further into those ideas and a kind and gentle disposition which makes him particularly effective at guiding peers further in their own study. In thinking about our conversations together, I am still impressed with how there never seemed a topic that he had not already thought through. If there was a current event, Jude seemed to know much of the facts surrounding the occurrence but could also draw on historical backdrop and possible implications for that community or region. When it came to topics of science, he could draw from an expanse of his previous understanding, but also make connections to the material that we were currently learning. He just seems to retain things more deeply and process ideas at a faster rate than his incredibly talented peers. In the context of science it was not that he was going outside of the material in order to try to show off. He seemed to be able to find no end of the depth we could explore within the topics we were already discussing. Chemistry does allow for this as it is all interconnected and as such layered upon itself. He could just navigate his way through all of those complexities. In physics class it has been much the same. I was visiting with him about the circular motion and he tied into the discussion his work in his multivariable calculus course. While Jude was certainly great about following logical implications, some part of his good work in class was his preparation before coming to class. Where some of my students delay week on week before seriously applying themselves to understand the topics, Jude never seemed off the pace of the course. In fact he was often ahead in his studies. Although I can monitor my students progress in problem sets and I saw Jude staying ahead, I certainly did not need to. Jude asked questions in class and came by when things did not make sense to him. Instead of delaying serious study to immediately before the test he put in the work day to day. He never seemed ruffled on test days as he was certain of his preparation. He is an impressive worker and student. One of the things that I have grown to appreciate about Jude is his delight in the clever thoughts of his peers. He seems genuinely excited when one of his classmates asks a particularly pointed question or comes up with a creative solution. Jude lets a big grin come across his face. He seems to delight in interesting conversations and in other people who would engage in them. Jude has stated in our conversation that he intends to pursue a degree in a technical field such as engineering or medicine. I am a mechanical engineer by degree and worked in ship design before my teaching career. I understand the discipline and ability that it requires to have success in such a pursuit. I am certain that Jude possesses the traits of a successful engineer and has the work ethic to meet the difficult demands. Further than that however, Jude’s enjoyment of science and enjoyment in engaging friends in that pursuit will benefit not only him but those that are in his learning community as well. Ross Shumate AP Chemistry/ AP Physics C
Jude was the student that I turned to when someone in class asked a particularly challenging question outside of the class material. If there was someone else in the room that knew the answer besides myself it was going to be Jude. In both my AP Chemistry class his sophomore year and his AP Physics C class this his senior year, Jude has served as my teaching assistant of sorts. His participation in class discussion is not effusive, however, it is timely and always thoughtful and intended to be helpful. Jude has an innate ability to understand complex topics, a work rate to dig further into those ideas and a kind and gentle disposition which makes him particularly effective at guiding peers further in their own study. In thinking about our conversations together, I am still impressed with how there never seemed a topic that he had not already thought through. If there was a current event, Jude seemed to know much of the facts surrounding the occurrence but could also draw on historical backdrop and possible implications for that community or region. When it came to topics of science, he could draw from an expanse of his previous understanding, but also make connections to the material that we were currently learning. He just seems to retain things more deeply and process ideas at a faster rate than his incredibly talented peers. In the context of science it was not that he was going outside of the material in order to try to show off. He seemed to be able to find no end of the depth we could explore within the topics we were already discussing. Chemistry does allow for this as it is all interconnected and as such layered upon itself. He could just navigate his way through all of those complexities. In physics class it has been much the same. I was visiting with him about the circular motion and he tied into the discussion his work in his multivariable calculus course. While Jude was certainly great about following logical implications, some part of his good work in class was his preparation before coming to class. Where some of my students delay week on week before seriously applying themselves to understand the topics, Jude never seemed off the pace of the course. In fact he was often ahead in his studies. Although I can monitor my students progress in problem sets and I saw Jude staying ahead, I certainly did not need to. Jude asked questions in class and came by when things did not make sense to him. Instead of delaying serious study to immediately before the test he put in the work day to day. He never seemed ruffled on test days as he was certain of his preparation. He is an impressive worker and student. One of the things that I have grown to appreciate about Jude is his delight in the clever thoughts of his peers. He seems genuinely excited when one of his classmates asks a particularly pointed question or comes up with a creative solution. Jude lets a big grin come across his face. He seems to delight in interesting conversations and in other people who would engage in them. Jude has stated in our conversation that he intends to pursue a degree in a technical field such as engineering or medicine. I am a mechanical engineer by degree and worked in ship design before my teaching career. I understand the discipline and ability that it requires to have success in such a pursuit. I am certain that Jude possesses the traits of a successful engineer and has the work ethic to meet the difficult demands. Further than that however, Jude’s enjoyment of science and enjoyment in engaging friends in that pursuit will benefit not only him but those that are in his learning community as well. Ross Shumate AP Chemistry/ AP Physics C
Jude was the student that I turned to when someone in class asked a particularly challenging question outside of the class material. If there was someone else in the room that knew the answer besides myself it was going to be Jude. In both my AP Chemistry class his sophomore year and his AP Physics C class this his senior year, Jude has served as my teaching assistant of sorts. His participation in class discussion is not effusive, however, it is timely and always thoughtful and intended to be helpful. Jude has an innate ability to understand complex topics, a work rate to dig further into those ideas and a kind and gentle disposition which makes him particularly effective at guiding peers further in their own study. In thinking about our conversations together, I am still impressed with how there never seemed a topic that he had not already thought through. If there was a current event, Jude seemed to know much of the facts surrounding the occurrence but could also draw on historical backdrop and possible implications for that community or region. When it came to topics of science, he could draw from an expanse of his previous understanding, but also make connections to the material that we were currently learning. He just seems to retain things more deeply and process ideas at a faster rate than his incredibly talented peers. In the context of science it was not that he was going outside of the material in order to try to show off. He seemed to be able to find no end of the depth we could explore within the topics we were already discussing. Chemistry does allow for this as it is all interconnected and as such layered upon itself. He could just navigate his way through all of those complexities. In physics class it has been much the same. I was visiting with him about the circular motion and he tied into the discussion his work in his multivariable calculus course. While Jude was certainly great about following logical implications, some part of his good work in class was his preparation before coming to class. Where some of my students delay week on week before seriously applying themselves to understand the topics, Jude never seemed off the pace of the course. In fact he was often ahead in his studies. Although I can monitor my students progress in problem sets and I saw Jude staying ahead, I certainly did not need to. Jude asked questions in class and came by when things did not make sense to him. Instead of delaying serious study to immediately before the test he put in the work day to day. He never seemed ruffled on test days as he was certain of his preparation. He is an impressive worker and student. One of the things that I have grown to appreciate about Jude is his delight in the clever thoughts of his peers. He seems genuinely excited when one of his classmates asks a particularly pointed question or comes up with a creative solution. Jude lets a big grin come across his face. He seems to delight in interesting conversations and in other people who would engage in them. Jude has stated in our conversation that he intends to pursue a degree in a technical field such as engineering or medicine. I am a mechanical engineer by degree and worked in ship design before my teaching career. I understand the discipline and ability that it requires to have success in such a pursuit. I am certain that Jude possesses the traits of a successful engineer and has the work ethic to meet the difficult demands. Further than that however, Jude’s enjoyment of science and enjoyment in engaging friends in that pursuit will benefit not only him but those that are in his learning community as well. Ross Shumate AP Chemistry/ AP Physics C