The typical dorm room does not contain drawers labeled “undies” and “hair,” green polka-dots stuck to the walls with slogans like “be green!” and “I love planet earth!” and a wooden mouse, finger painted different shades of pink, green, and red. Nor does the typical dorm room have “Magic Tree House” books and “Brain Quest” lined up on one of two desks, or a box of Crayons. The typical dorm room does not belong to a 5-year-old.Yet for Abby Adams-Smith this colorful dorm room is hers for 5 weeks during the Governor’s Scholars Program at Bellarmine University. Abby is the daughter of the Journalism-Mass Media Professor, Jeanie-Adams Smith.
As a result of Adams-Smith’s 6-week commitment to enriching the minds of young Kentuckians, her daughter has found a new home for the summer, as the only child of faculty present.
The Governor’s Scholars Program, in existence since 1983, has dedicated itself to finding committed faculty. The 150 faculty members, spread out over three Kentucky campuses, dedicate 6 weeks of their summer to the Governor’s Scholars Program, often leaving their families at home. However, some faculty members choose to bring the family experience with them. While this may bring the comforts of home to the Governor’s Scholars Program, affectionately known as GSP, difficulties and challenges are also present.
Jeanie Adams-Smith, a photo-journalism professor at Western Kentucky University, is entering her second year as a faculty member at the Bellarmine GSP campus. Adams-Smith’s daughter, Abby, is also entering her second year at GSP, and remains the sole representative of a faculty member child. Her experiences differ from those of children in past years of GSP, as the numbers of children present on campus have varied.
According to Adams-Smith there is “no community at GSP of kids Abby’s age,” unlike that of years past. At the Eastern Kentucky University GSP campus in 2001, the number of children soared, nearing almost 20 children. The dynamics of the “kid culture on campus” vary greatly according to the number of children present. Instead of entertainment on campus, Abby is enrolled in a number of local area summer camps in order to keep her mind stimulated and be around kids her age. However, Adams-Smith does not see this as a negative.
“Abby is a happy, bright, child used to change,” Adams-Smith said “she has blossomed at GSP and really enjoys being around the scholars.”However, not all faculty members can bring their children with them on campus for the 5 weeks. Matt Curless, entering his 11th summer as a visual art teacher at GSP, has left his family at home in northern Kentucky this summer.
While Curless claims that the “friendly, optimistic, people keeps [him] returning” to GSP, it still “hurts to be away.”
“When I come home on weekends, [his three children] look and talk different,” Curless explains, “their language and bodies are growing so fast and developing.”
Because the scholars rarely interact with anyone outside the ages of 16 and 17, seeing a bubbly 5-year-old, skipping and singing in the cafeteria can be a bit of a surprise. Yet Abby seems to be embracing the GSP experience, and making a culture of her own. While usually absent during the day, attending a zoo or art camp, Abby’s presence is felt by all, usually accompanied with a smile.
But just because Abby is not officially a Governor’s Scholar does not mean that she has not been infused with the qualities of curiosity and a passion for learning. As a 5-year old reading at an eighth grade level, Abby has truly discovered what it means to be a scholar.
Most notably, Abby hosted a bake sale to raise money for the diminishing polar bears. While from a distance it may look funny to see teenagers buying cupcakes decorated as polar bears from a first-grader, at a closer look it is evident that through the Governor’s Scholars Program, someone small can make the same impact as someone triple her age.