Why did you choose this degree -- and UNI?
I have always wanted to be a teacher. I knew that UNI was the place to go become the best teacher I can be! My teachers growing up always recommended UNI.

What kind of path did you take to achieve your degree?
When I first came to UNI I was a secondary science major. To me that was a much easier position than teaching elementary students. I realized in my first semester that my passion was in elementary education instead. I switched to elementary education and never looked back! 

Describe your field experience and how it has prepared you for your career.
One field experience that really helped prepare me for my future is Advanced Literacy Practices (ALP). It was my most extensive class at UNI, but I learned so much about teaching. I've used this learning almost daily in my student teaching experience and will continue in my own classroom. This experience gave me an opportunity to create and use my own created materials. This was a challenge at first, but helped to grow my teaching toolbox. 

What does completing your degree mean to you?
It means the start of the rest of my life! My goal has always been to graduate and become a teacher. This is the last rung of the latter before having my own classroom. It also means the recognition of four years of hard work and learning at college. 

What challenges did you face as you worked toward this degree – and how did you overcome them?
One major challenge I faced while getting this degree was managing my time and finances. I  had to self fund my time at UNI while also maintaining my grades in school. I have been really blessed in my time at UNI with both an awesome job and awesome professors. I found a job through the UNIQUE in Waterloo which worked with my schedule and allowed me to continue to work with students and improve my ability as a teacher. Professors helped to make sure that my assignments were purposeful and worth my time. I learned how to balance working on school work and still getting hours at my job to pay for my housing and tuition. 

How did UNI help you achieve your goals?
UNI has helped me achieve my goals by continuing to be affordable while also being rigorous. I have learned so much in my time at UNI. One of my biggest goals was to be a confident teacher when I left UNI. In my last semester I feel extremely confident in my teaching abilities, as well as my ability to learn and improve as a teacher in my future. UNI helped to alleviate my teaching self-doubt and confidence when entering the classroom. 

We often say UNI is student focused; a place where professors care--and teach; a place where learning happens in and out of the classroom;  and is perfectly sized. Do any of these statements ring true for you?
All four of those are perfect descriptors of UNI! I could give an example for every point given. #3 continues to hold true for me. While I did learn a lot in the classroom at UNI, I also learned so much in my experiences outside of the college classroom. As a teacher the most valuable experience I can have is in the classroom. UNI has helped to include me in a field experience nearly every semester I have been in school. Each field experience has helped to grow my confidence and I have learned so much from each individual experience. 

What’s your best memory of your time at UNI?
My best memory of UNI is any Friday night in Hagemann Hall. Floor 2 of Hagemann will forever have a special place in my heart. Not only did I meet some of my best lifelong friends, I also grew and matured into the person I am today. On any given Friday night you could find new people to meet or friends looking for something to do. The energy and excitement on floor 2 was contagious and made for some great nights. One specific night I remember running around the fresh snow at midnight with at least 10 guys on my floor. We were running sprints in the snow, laughing as we took turns slipping on the ice. 

What advice would you give to students considering UNI?
Why would you consider it? You won't find a place that feels more like home than UNI. The culture of UNI is kind and caring. The faculty at UNI genuinely care for the student body. One big piece of advice is to live in the dorms at least one year! While you may not always love your dorm or your roommate, you will look back and appreciate the experience. I matured so much in my one year in a dorm. I learned how to deal with a roommate, maintain my relationships, create new relationships and how to live as an adult on my own. I also made lifelong friends that I wouldn't have met outside of Hagemann Hall. 

What's next? 
I will be teaching fourth grade next year at Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary in Indianola, Iowa. I plan on going back to UNI to get my administration license once I have my teaching license.