Guided by Faith, Driven by Purpose: Gardner-Webb Senior Pursues Her Calling to Teach

After Overcoming Personal Loss, Balancing Work and School, Jessica Greene Prepares to Student-Teach and Graduate Debt-Free

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—“You have to start to get to where you want to go,” remarked Gardner-Webb University senior Jessica Greene. Simple yet profound, this statement has guided Greene while she navigated some of life’s most difficult challenges. In the face of loss, uncertainty, and growing responsibilities, she responded by taking the next step forward.

Though she endured the passing of both parents before graduating from high school, Greene will complete her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degree debt-free in December. She is excited to begin student teaching in a kindergarten classroom in August.

“Losing my parents was the hardest thing I have been through, especially my dad, who helped me through all of life’s challenges,” Greene reflected. “They both had hard childhoods and struggled, so they wanted better for me. When I graduated high school two months after my dad passed away, I realized I could do anything I set my mind to. I knew I wanted to go to college, and when I started my daycare job, I realized helping children was my calling, and I was going to reach my goal. My dad taught me to never give up no matter how hard life gets.”

Greene’s parents divorced when she was 2 years old, and she lived with her father. Then, while she was in ninth grade, her mother died unexpectedly. She continues to draw strength from the lessons both parents shared with her.

“My mother always told me to chase my dreams because life is short,” she recalled. “My dad taught me who Jesus was from a young age and the importance of having a relationship with him. My dad had a kidney transplant in his 20s, and it drastically affected his health. One thing he always told me was, ‘You just need faith in the Lord, and everything will be OK.’ His unwavering faith, strength and love are values that I will always carry with me.”

Her experiences growing up also helped shape her calling to become a teacher. Greene remembered her home as a place where friends often gathered because they felt safe and welcomed. “I want to teach children and let them know they have someone who believes in them and wants what is best for them,” she said. “I believe all children should have someone they can trust and feel loved by.”

Throughout her educational journey, her fiancé, Clayton Linnens, has been one of her greatest supporters. The couple will be married this month. While Greene participated in virtual classes after a full day at work, Linnens offered emotional encouragement and supported her in tangible ways. “He would help by making dinner and cleaning the house,” she noted. “He did this so when I got off (the computer) we could spend time together. He has sat with me on countless weekends and mentally supported me as I spent hours working on assignments.”

Balancing full-time employment, clinical experiences, and online classes required discipline and careful planning. As her clinical requirements increased from one day to three days each week, Greene became even more intentional about managing her time. The hard work paid off, because she will graduate without taking on student loans. Greene wants to buy items to use in her classroom, and the couple plan to start saving money to build a home.

Greene found support not only at home but also in the Gardner-Webb College of Education. Her professors played an important role in her success, especially Visiting Assistant Professor Dr. Brittany Evans and Assistant Professor of Education Dr. Cherie Aldrich. “As the classes became more intense, I was constantly asking these professors how to improve my work, and they were always there to help,” Greene said. “They encouraged me and discussed the positive things students had accomplished.”

Through every challenge, Greene remembered her father’s testimony and leaned on her faith. “I know that the way I got through it is Jesus and getting closer to him,” she shared. “When life feels heavy, I encourage you to just open up the Bible and sit with the Lord. You may not always know what to say, and there were many times when I would tell the Lord that I did not know what to say, but I needed help. The Lord is the answer, and he will help if you just give him a chance.”

As she prepares to begin student teaching this fall, Greene is eager to see firsthand how students learn and to experience the everyday realities of the classroom. Most of all, she hopes to create the same sense of encouragement and belonging that shaped her own life.

“The impact I hope to have on my students is that they leave my classroom believing in themselves as learners and feeling excited about coming to school each day,” she affirmed. “I hope my students remember that they had a teacher who cared about them, believed in their potential and encouraged them to become lifelong learners.”

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Become More at gardner-webb.edu.