The City Tech Tea Club was conceived and development over six months by two motivated students, an ambitious alumna and me as their faculty advisor. The City Tech Tea Clubās mission is to āshare enthusiasm for the knowledge of tea essentialsā, and that is exactly what we accomplished. As the faculty advisor to this newly formed club, I helped students establish the mission, goals and activities of the club, build an executive board, develop a marketing plan, and set expectations for meetings. Club meetings were designed to educate students on tea types, tea origins, processing, storage, history and what makes each tea unique. Club activities include the exploration of drinking tea as a social activity, and the invitation of guest speakers always keeping in mind that students attending the meetings would like to have fun while developing knowledge they can apply to their current and future professions.
As a faculty advisor, my work with students is an extension of the classroom. I mentor students through the process of recruiting members and participants, determining meeting topics, developing agenda and executing the meetings. The club leaders provide additional chances for students to hone their professional skills, they are investing in their own development while supporting their peersā goals as well. This is special and deserves the dedication of a teaching working as a mentor.
