"I strongly believe that countries and people should be encouraged to exercise their cultural practices and languages, but I also understand that people also need to learn English if they wish to advance their careers at some point," she said. "As a native English speaker and educator, I was hopeful that I might be able to assist in the education of English abroad where needed." And athletic competition has helped Mitchler along the way. "Sports helped me practice leadership skills, time management and hard work," she said. "All of these things help me in the classroom." She also learned to be a valuable member of a team. That's a great benefit as she toils far from home to help the world become a better place.
Jenna Mitchler is a team player in the American Peace Corps in Emfeni in the Republic of Malawi, located in the southeastern part of Africa near the Zambian border
In Peace Corps, Mitchler brings her life lessons to Africa
July 4, 2008
Caption: Jenna Mitchler stands with her students in the village of Emfeni, located in the Republic of Malawi, where she is a teacher in the American Peace Corps. Photo courtesy of Mollie Mitchler
Although Jenna Mitchler gained prominence as a runner and powerlifter at Kaukauna High School and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, forget about trying to get her to brag about her individual achievements.
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She insists that she was lucky to be on track relay teams with gifted Kaukauna runners like Brooke Novak, Lizzie Grube and Christy Cazzola.
At UW-Stevens Point she received 12 all-America awards for her running.
"Again, I was really lucky to be part of a talented team that led us in some large meets," she said.
Teams were always important to Mitchler in sports.
Now, she's enjoying success as a team player in the American Peace Corps in Emfeni in the Republic of Malawi, located in the southeastern part of Africa near the Zambian border.
"She was very driven," said Laura Nettekoven, one of Mitchler's coaches at Kaukauna. "She showed a lot of intensity and was respected by the team. She has a passion for helping other people, just like she has a passion for running. So it didn't surprise me when she joined the Peace Corps."
UW-Stevens Point track coach Rick Witt said: "Jenna will never brag, but she was an NCAA champion in the 800 meters. She was definitely a team player, but we had a really good group of women runners. They were good friends, but they were tremendously competitive. They would get after each other like friendly rivals."
Mitchler's Peace Corps destination is a more than 17-hour plane ride from New York.
There were moments that she became homesick since arriving there last September. A former downhill ski instructor while teaching and coaching at Marshfield High School, she said she misses Wisconsin's snow.
But the likable Mitchler quickly adjusted to a faraway land and developed strong friendships with fellow Peace Corps members, school officials and local residents.
The 2002 Kaukauna High graduate added that in the Peace Corps they're all supporting each other just like her teammates did when she was a Wisconsin athlete.
Mitchler is an English teacher in Emfeni, with 70 students in her freshmen-level class. Her room is small, and the students share 11 bench desks.
Each desk was built to accommodate two students, but they squeeze three to four kids at each one. She's fortunate that most of her students are small in stature. Her junior class is made up of 55 students, and they each have their own desks. Mitchler is the only female teacher at her high school.
"The school environment is much different here," she said. "My school consists of three buildings. The buildings have tin roofs. The tin makes it especially difficult to teach during the rainy season."
Despite a busy schedule, Mitchler hasn't forgotten about the value of athletics and staying physically fit.
"I am the girls' sports mistress at my school, and I am coach of the netball team," she said. "Since we don't learn netball in the states, I have been working hard to learn all of the rules. But I find that the girls really want someone to be supportive of their activities."
Mitchler still runs almost daily, taking about only one day off her routine every two weeks.
She said she feels better emotionally and physically when she sticks to her runs. She covers five to seven miles per day. Sometimes, students accompany her.
In the Peace Corps, it's obvious that Mitchler has joined a rewarding team. She earns only $123 per month, so her journey far from the friendly confines of the Fox Cities certainly isn't about money.
"I strongly believe that countries and people should be encouraged to exercise their cultural practices and languages, but I also understand that people also need to learn English if they wish to advance their careers at some point," she said. "As a native English speaker and educator, I was hopeful that I might be able to assist in the education of English abroad where needed."
And athletic competition has helped Mitchler along the way.
"Sports helped me practice leadership skills, time management and hard work," she said. "All of these things help me in the classroom."
She also learned to be a valuable member of a team. That's a great benefit as she toils far from home to help the world become a better place.
Dan VanderPas: 920-993-1000, ext. 230, or dvanderpas@postcrescent.com
