Sorren Eddings

Student

By Georgia Dunn

Contributing Writer

An unfinished, human-sized crochet dragon currently sits in the bedroom of Brookhaven student Sorren Eddings. It is the latest addition to their collection of original artworks, and it provides a glimpse into Eddings’s artistic talents. 

They have black hair, black boots and a black septum piercing, each of these tempered by their soft smile and kind eyes.

Eddings has a wide range of creative hobbies, including painting, metalsmithing, carpentry, ceramics, costume design and sculpture. Their artistry is incredibly important to them, acting as a central part of their identity while also helping them manage the stresses of their everyday life. “When I’m creating, it helps muffle the world into something more manageable,” they said.

​Before coming to Dallas College, Eddings graduated from Creekview High School and worked at Starbucks. They initially attended Arizona State University through the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, but realized the structure was not working for them, so they transferred to Brookhaven. They are happy with the change and have mainly focused on settling in for their first semester. 

They recently befriended Remi Harper, a fellow student in their Design I class. “She and I clicked instantly,” she said.

Their proudest achievement at Brookhaven are two essays they wrote for their English class, including one about refractions in art and society, and one describing the differences between emotional maturity and parentification. They are grateful for the opportunity to explore these ideas, having always been interested in them.

​There are many great qualities about Brookhaven Eddings appreciates, such as its inclusive and diverse community.

“The social environment here is like a clean slate — and there’s no obvious cliques like some universities,” Eddings said.

They also praise the wide range of equipment and materials readily available for students to create with and are especially looking forward to working with clay and metal in their future projects. 

They hope to participate in Brookhaven’s theater program soon, drawn to its more behind-the-scenes aspects, like stage design and costuming. Before they transfer to UNT or UTA, they are excited to add a few more Brookhaven-made pieces to their ever-growing collection of artworks.

Toby Baldwin

Staff

By Karol Joseph

Staff Writer

Toby Baldwin is one of those people who you could never imagine having been a reckless youth. No sign of mistakes in his eyes, just knowledge and an eager willingness to share it. Being a historian, the librarian reads in search of a historical answer that satisfies his curiosity. 

That need for history grasped him when he spent the summer before his senior year of college in Greece and it did not let him go when he came back to the states. After saving money for a while, he returned to Greece. He spent two years there traveling, teaching English and working on archaeology projects. 

He then moved to Italy for a year before applying to a graduate program in the U.S. In this program he was lucky enough to return to Greece again and do research there for two years. After graduate school he taught writing and history at the University of Chicago for six years while trying to finish a dissertation.

He is a person smart enough to teach writing at one of the best writing programs in the U.S but also down to Earth enough that leaving Greece only to go back with enough saved money seemed like the only possibility in a sea of fantasy.

“I like nothing more than when somebody comes and says: ‘You know it’s been 20 years since I got out of school. I don’t know how to do anything. How can I use the computer? How can I find a book’? To be able to help them. That’s the satisfaction,” Baldwin said.

This historian-turned-librarian sees that books are a “foreign technology” for some students and wishes that they knew the “ecology of information” better. 

He has been working at Brookhaven for five years since the reorganization. Because he has worked in libraries for 26 years, he can not see himself surrounded in anything but the past. Being a historian, the librarian reads in search of a historical answer that satisfies his curiosity.

“You cannot get immediate, today’s information from the books in the library. But what you can get is a greater depth of understanding,” Baldwin said.

Rebecca García

Faculty

By Gabriella Flores Cabrera

Spanish Staff Writer

Click here for Spanish version

With a smile on her face, professor Rebecca García shares the philosophy that has guided her life and unique teaching style of lifelong learning. With years of experience in education, her trajectory at Dallas College and her passion for culture have defined her instructional approaches, where language and the arts go hand in hand.

García began her career at El Centro College as an adjunct professor until 2004, when she transitioned into a full-time role. Prior to that, she worked as an elementary bilingual teacher in the Dallas Independent School District, which allowed her to develop a solid foundation in teaching new languages.

She also participated in a program called “Long Distance,” a project considered a precursor to online education. “Those were programs intended to teach Spanish to elementary students” García said. Using puppets inspired by “The Muppets” and children’s stories, the program successfully captured students attention and was eventually recognized with an Emmy award.

2004 marked a turning point in her life. “My life started; I made many changes,” García said. After leaving Dallas Independent School District, she formally incorporated to Dallas College, where she continued teaching and founded a student dance group that performed in shows and festivals for over a decade.

In 2018, she began teaching Early College High School, where she remains today. Her passion for dance continues to play a vital role in her classroom. “Last year we had a program for Hispanic Heritage Month where the students danced. This year, the festival was for Dia de Muertos,” García said.

Throughout her career, García has maintained a constant connection to the arts. She has performed in traditional Mexican folkloric ballet and integrates these experiences into her life. “Following the same project or cultural idea, [I focus on] teaching them through dance, singing or poetry and adapting it,” Garcia said.

Her interest in languages is equally expansive. She graduated from Texas Christian University where she studied Italian alongside opera singers. She has also studied Portuguese and continues to expand her linguistic horizons.

Originally from South Texas, García is a fourth-generation Texan. “I grew up in the countryside on a ranch, It was a very pleasant experience,” She said.

For her, learning a new language goes far beyond grammar; culture is essential. She emphasizes the importance of constant evolution in teaching: “Not staying stagnant … looking for new strategies, creating projects that can introduce people to our culture.”

García highlighted what she enjoys the most about her profession. “I think it’s all about interaction – the ability to develop a friendship, taking the time to know each student in a human way”, she said. Her message for the students is clear “Learning is life.” She concludes with a metaphor “Life is like Tango because even if you slip, you keep dancing.”