I am incredibly proud to see the impact of my continued learning reflected in my classroom and in my students’ success.
In one classroom at South Shore Regional Vocational Technical School, physics lessons rarely stay on the page for very long.
There, Christina Brennan, ’20, G’26, teaches beyond the textbooks, giving students the opportunity to dive right in.
“My teaching is a little different than your typical classroom. The projects we do are very hands-on and applicable. I try not to do anything just based out of a book; I want them to have a real-world experience,” said Christina, who earned a physics degree from BSU and is now enrolled in the graduate physical science teaching degree program.
Her methods work. Some of her students recently advanced to the finals of the PACK Challenge to represent South Shore -- one of only six schools nationwide to earn a spot at the national engineering and manufacturing competition.
The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies hosts the event.
Brennan is working with students on engineering design, manufacturing concepts, teamwork, and problem-solving skills as they prepare to compete this October in Chicago. The opportunity, she said, is a valuable one for her high schoolers.
“The packaging industry is a booming industry; this exposes them to that,” she said. “Through the challenge, they have to design and create a packaging solution from start to finish.”
She is currently organizing fundraising events that will cover students’ travel expenses.
As both an educator and a Bridgewater State student, being able to see her education play out in her career is exciting.
“I am incredibly proud to see the impact of my continued learning reflected in my classroom and in my students’ success,” she said.
She was inspired to become a teacher because of the impression others left on her both in high school and at BSU.
“They (teachers) were always so caring and compassionate towards their students and always wanted the best for them. It inspired me to want to do better,” Christina said.
When transferring to BSU in her junior year, she specifically received support from Physics professor Dr. Thomas Kling.
“I had a lot of meetings with Dr. Kling. He made the transition very smooth, was incredibly welcoming, and helped me with figuring out what credits would transfer,” Christina said.
Once at BSU, she found the entire physics department to be exceptional, often making time for students beyond office hours. She remains in close contact with many of her professors, who have continued to mentor her in her graduate studies.
At the helm of her own classroom, Christina applies what she’s learned as a student, adding her own flair to educate the next generation.
“I get to showcase all the knowledge I’ve gotten from Bridgewater, and school in general,” she said. “I make sure my students see how important it is to keep learning and not be afraid of asking questions."
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