Teaching & Learning Student Rachel Lipscomb Shares Her Story - University of Houston
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Teaching & Learning Student Rachel Lipscomb Shares Her Story

Rachel LipscombRachel Lipscomb recently had an article published in CollegeMagazine.com about her challenges with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).  Lipscomb earned a BA in Journalism in 2013 and is seeking teacher certification as a Post baccalaureate (PB) student in the Teaching & Learning program.

Lipscomb never expected others to see the article. She explained that she kept her OCD a secret for so long. “Aside from my former therapist no one knew I was diagnosed and I played it off as counting is just something I do,” she said.  “It’s also a struggle to hear how others trivialize the disorder by claiming how they’re OCD but they don't understand the internal struggle that comes with it. I'm normal, I grew up in a typical nuclear home, it's possible to have a normal life and have OCD.” 

In the classroom, Lipscomb believes it's important to be aware of struggles others might be having and that just because you can't see what's going on with someone doesn't mean they don't have struggles. “It was also very therapeutic just writing a story and then being able to tell everyone on my own time,” she said.  “I want my students to know that no matter what they've been diagnosed with or struggling with, it's ok. People will tease, I was teased, and I don't condone it but whatever it is, they aren't any less of a person because of their trials.” 

When asked which UH professors inspired her the most, she told us that clinical associate professor Margaret Hale was super supportive and encouraged all of her students.  Lipscomb was impressed that Hale wanted “to know how we're doing, how classes are, she always took time out of her day wanting to know about your day,” said Lipscomb. “Having teachers who care about their students is important.” 

Hale loved seeing Rachel and and her other students express themselves through writing.  "I believe that as future teachers of reading and writing (they were in my secondary English methods course), they need to be readers and writers themselves," she said.  "So they all wrote pieces and submitted them to various publications!  I'm so proud of Rachel and of all of them for taking the time to write, critique each others' writing, and submit their writing.  They put themselves down on paper, which is difficult for all of us!"

Lipscomb also said that Mr. David Mcham, who she had for a few writing classes told her not to stop. “He was always giving me ‘grandfatherly advice’ and was supportive which is important to have in a teacher,” she said. 

Read Rachel Lipscomb’s article in CollegeMagazine.com: But First, Let Me Count to Five.