You have volunteered for the past year and a half at Murray Middle School.  Can you tell us about this experience and how you became involved? I decided this was something I needed to do while I was working with Project Home 2 years ago:  I realized that the biggest difference between me and one of our guests, who was almost my age and a really a neat lady, was that I had a high school diploma. What are your chances of supporting yourself without a solid education?  So I emailed Murray and asked what I could do.  I picked Murray because it's 2 blocks from my house and, for whatever reason, it's 7th and 8th graders that I really appreciate.

 

What is most life giving about tutoring? Are there parts that are really difficult as well?  When I think that I've contributed meaningfully to someone's education - maybe it's clearing a particular hurdle in math, or maybe it's helping someone think of herself as a scientist when she grows up - my soul sings.  But I never know if I'm actually helping - that's what's so hard.  There are so many logistical constraints in the classroom, and even though I get to work with the same students every week, it's only once a week.  It feels like it's not enough. 

 

Is this something that parishioners at St. Matthew's could participate in?  How can others take the plunge into tutoring?  Absolutely!  I just emailed the school - whatever general contact was available on the website - and they got me in touch with the volunteer coordinator, who pointed me toward the 1-on-1 tutoring program.  The thing about the 1-on-1 program is that it's in the middle of the day - not very compatible with a day job unless you can take a long lunch.  But there are other opportunities: http://murray.spps.org/Volunteering

 

In your work life, you are an Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Minnesota. Can you share a bit about this? I still feel like this is an accident - a job I fell into by making a series of decisions that I didn't fully understand at the time-but I guess every job is like that.  I study and teach about visual perception - why we see what we see.  It's amazing how much of our visual world is actually created by our expectations and past experiences! I love research and I love teaching - these satisfy two aspects of my core being (wondering and loving). However, I am not an entrepreneur.  At home, we jokingly call me Sous Cheryl:  I'm an excellent sous chef, but my sister's the chef. Being a professor at a major research university requires a lot of entrepreneurial skills that I'm still learning.

 

What brought you to St. Matthew's - and why did you stay?  A combination of things brought me here.  I enjoy a car-light lifestyle, so I was looking for something in the neighborhood.  I didn't actually shop around - I visited, it fit my style, and I stayed!  It's always a combination of things that makes us stay.  For me, it feels like Christ is at the center of this church, and the leadership and the congregation are gathered around listening.  This is good.

 

Is there anything else you would like to add? I'd be lying if I didn't say the music is also a big part of why I came and stayed. Do you know how wonderful it sounds out in College Park on a Sunday morning when the doors are open?  A year ago, Susan Jones invited me to join the choir, and at first I thought it was ridiculous - I don't know the first thing about singing!  But what fun it is!  There isn't a person in the choir who hasn't patiently taught me something, and I am so glad to have music in my life again.  That paragraph that runs in the bulletin every week is real - Michael wants more people in the choir!  So I'd encourage anyone who enjoys singing to give it a shot - I'd like to share the "new kid" status with a few more people ...