Page 38 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2024 - Online Magazine

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Senior
Senior

The Encouraging,

Creative, and

Inspirational

Tanya Carder

by Cade Franklin

here would an eight-year-
old get the idea that he
Wcould start a shoe drive
that, over ten years, would result in
more than 2,700 pairs of shoes being
collected and distributed to individuals
in our community? The answer
might surprise you: It was Mrs. Tanya
Carder’s Gifted and Talented class at
North Ridge Elementary in 2013.

Being in the GT program allowed
me to be a part of a group of
students who had a place to use our was born. For me, having empathy I got to attend the “Funkee Munkee
skills, abilities, and talents through and finding solutions to serve others Imagination Camp” that Mrs. Carder
a specialized curriculum. This through my gifts and talents developed offered.
curriculum challenged our thinking in large part because of Mrs. Carder's
in ways traditional classroom study mentorship. Seeing students connect, engage, and
didn't. Our teacher, Mrs. Carder, grow in their intelligent creativity
always encouraged us to be mindful, “Creativity is intelligence having is something Mrs. Carder knew she
to think critically, and to problem- fun!” These words were colorfully was passionate about at an early age.
solve while considering the bigger positioned on the wall in Mrs. Carder’s Growing up in Hereford, Texas, she
picture. She challenged us to see the Gifted and Talented classroom, and always loved playing school, (as the
world uniquely while discovering they flowed through her cheerful smile teacher of course!), reading to younger
innovative ways to solve problems. As daily at North Ridge Elementary. I children and even later teaching in
we studied different cultures that year, looked forward to the time I got to Sunday School. Watching others
I learned about the tragic situations spend in Mrs. Carder’s class each connect with the lessons she shared
many children endure, and it broke week, wondering what discoveries I brought joy to her heart. She went
my heart. Mrs. Carder encouraged would make, which unknown skills on with this passion in pursuit of her
us to think of ways we could help might begin to bud into existence, degree at West Texas State University
people in need in our community, and where would our projects take me, and (now West Texas A&M University) in
that is how “Cade’s Soles for Souls” how would my mind be challenged. Canyon, Texas.
Summers were just as exciting when

38 Lubbock Senior Link