Catalina Trigo (2nd Education Primary and Pedagogy) and Fátima Ruiz (4th Pedagogy) are two of the students who organize FEPS (Fast Excellent Powerful Students), an initiative that has been running for three years and that provides student with a complementary training . The distinctive feature of these training sessions is that they are designed and organized by students for students. We talked to them to learn more about them.

You have been at the University for 2 and 4 years now, has the initial idea you had when you started your programs of study changed?

Fatima: In my case, yes. I started studying Law and Business Administration, and I did not do badly. But I realized that this subject of training did not respond to what I was looking for, which was more related to the background of what is important for the person. And that is where, thanks to my brother, who was already student of the School of Education and Psychology, I discovered Pedagogy.

Catalina: At high school I was asked to help in a class, where there was a girl with Down Syndrome. That's when I realized that I could specialize in Education Special. I decided to study Education Elementary with Pedagogy to be more educated. After my first year of college, I changed my mind and now I am looking for something related to the specialization program I am studying.

What have you discovered during your time at School?

F: Throughout my life, I have met all kinds of teachers subject . The ones that have touched me the most have been those who go beyond, who make you think, who don't just want you to memorize content. Besides, what I like about pedagogy is the abstract of the Education, its ultimate meaning. There are professors who say that what is important are the practices and others give more importance to theory. Besides, I am doing Psychology at a distance through the UNED and I plan to do a doctorate in Personality Psychology. There are professors who have supported me on this path, such as Professor Benigno Freire.

Fatima, you have referred to different types of teachers, how would you like to be in the future?

I would like to be the subject teacher who generates interest in students. There are times when students perceive the importance of learning something. As it is a profession internship, there are times when students think that theory is useless, that it is a waste of time, without realizing that it is part of the whole.

And you, Catalina?

I would like to be a teacher who motivates her students and makes them see that goal learning is not about being evaluated in an exam, but that it is a training that will serve them in the future.

This you point out is one of the challenges that teachers may face. How do you think students can be made to see that studying is for their own good?

C: I think that here we see two points core topic: the attitude of the teacher and the sense given to the subject. It is important to explain to the student what is going to be done during the course, and why it is necessary for them to have that knowledge. I think that if you manage to change the vision of student, their way of studying will be different. The second point is the way of evaluating, I think that we have to bet on innovation and creativity in the assessment. Perhaps we should focus more on integrating oral and written comprehension tests.

Let's talk about FEPS, what does it suggest to you?

F: FEPS was created two years ago thanks to the initiative of Ruth Bethencourt and Office of Student Affairs. She is a 4th year student of Pedagogy, who comes from the USA. Ruth saw that there is more contact among the students there, and thought that promote should be an activity that would foster this relationship and that would serve as financial aid and training for the students themselves. His idea was to have upperclassmen advise the newcomers and, in this way, bring the students of School closer together. Thus the idea of "students for students" was born. It was based on three pillars: advising students, encouraging conversation in English and proposal of activities, of sessions of training complementary to degree program, on topics in which we were interested in deepening our knowledge.

FEPS has only been in operation for a short time, do you think it is working so far?

C: Yes, we have seen that student-driven initiatives are very popular. FEPS encourages students to put their ideas into action.

F: FEPS is aimed at people who have something to contribute and want to do it. Although it has been in existence for a short time, we have seen that the first courses have made them realize that if they want to set something up, they can do it. This year, it has been seen with the day of patron saint. If the students are told: "It's your responsibility, what you want to do, do it"; once they internalize the message, they give everything in their power to make the activity go ahead.

Mobilizing students costs. Do you think it is because, in general, they are not interested in getting involved or is it because they are not more integrated in the initiatives?

C: You can go through college in many ways. For example, you can go to class, study and take the exam. Or, you can be an active student and get involved in extracurricular activities, leaving academics aside. For me, the ideal student is the one who is able to combine both, the one who is transformed by his or her time at the University and leaves a mark on it. That attitude of the student is very important. However, even if the student is proactive, it is necessary that the academic staff supports and helps to develop these initiatives. This makes student grow. The university should be the perfect opportunity to try to bring ideas and motivations to fruition.

What would be your proposal to get students involved without neglecting their academic responsibilities?

F: At the end of my internship, I was evaluated on my communication skills, empathy, initiative, responsibility... Not on the work done. It doesn't matter if you arrive at a business and you know everything, if you don't know how to work in a team or if you are not proactive.

C: One of my students asked me what I had taken away from my first year of university, if I had been motivated by anything, or if any lecture had left a mark on me. That's when I realized (and that's what I would tell the students), that they have to take something enriching away from the university.

What do you do in your spare time?

C: I dedicate a lot of time to sports, my father has instilled it in us. I am also preparing with my uncle a project on values and virtues. We believe that this is something that every professional - and even more, educator - must have. The Education is changing again and is asking for teachers who have values and virtues, who teach knowledge and help to form people.

F: I do a lot of activities with the high school senior. I am in the President soccer trophy. I also do volunteer activities at the Core Foundation giving school support to first grades of Education Primary.