April 6, 2011 — To pursue community outreach efforts and to promote the profession, Cleveland Chiropractic College (CCC) student Jennifer Knobbe attended a college fair March 8 at Johnson Elementary School in Kansas City.
The school has more than 300 students in grades K-5 and the event was held to encourage students to begin thinking about their future educational endeavors.
Knobbe was one of several people representing colleges and universities in the area. The event was a way to stimulate interest in higher education by offering information with a personal touch. By encouraging students to begin planning for their future now, it was hoped that they would realize the power of education and where it can take them.
During two hours with 4th and 5th grade students, Knobbe shared the many aspects of chiropractic care with her audience. In addition, she outlined her pursuit of chiropractic as a career, and the education needed to achieve her goal. The students were anxious to learn more about the profession and it showed in their reaction.
“The most rewarding part was seeing the smiles on the students’ faces when I would talk about the bones of the body,” Knobbe said. “They were all so excited and wanted to know everything they could about the bones that I brought. I also loved all the questions they asked me, not only about the bones but also about the school and being a chiropractor!”
The enthusiasm put forward by Knobbe, and matched by the children, was not lost on the school administrators.
“Jennifer did a great job at our college fair,” Professional School Counselor Jill Krickbaum said. “Her table was the most popular.”
The opportunity to share chiropractic with others is what Knobbe finds enjoyable about these career events. The excitement of the young people is infectious and their desire to learn about new things makes them a captive audience. Her time with the students helped to reinvigorate her personally and professionally.
“The day I went to Johnson Elementary School was really busy and I felt really down and stressed out,” Knobbe said. “However, after I left the school I was so excited and more on fire with chiropractic than I have been for a long time. Giving back the community and sharing stories about the things that you are passionate about really puts life in perspective and fulfills the soul.”
CCC students participate in a variety of community outreach events throughout the year. Whether it’s elementary students or college graduates, current Cleveland students are often the most effective way to inspire the next generation of chiropractors.
Source: Cleveland Chiropractic College, www.cleveland.edu
