Why did you choose this degree -- and UNI?
I pursued this degree at UNI after I rediscovered my love for being around students and teaching and was accepted by the Cedar Falls Community School District to be part of their COVID grant to send 15 students into the Purple Pathway Program.

What path did you take to achieve your degree?
I discovered my passion along the way. There was a long journey to get to this point in my life.

Describe your field experience and how it has prepared you for your career.
Being a paraeducator while going through the Purple Pathway program is the experience that has impacted and prepared me the most for my career.

What does completing your degree mean to you?
I am a first generation college student and graduate; this will also be my second degree. So, this holds a lot of meaning for me. Through this program I have finally found my passion and my place in the world. It might not have been the path I set out for after high school graduation, but it is here and I couldn't be more proud.

What challenges did you face as you worked toward this degree – and how did you overcome them?
Time management was one of the biggest challenges. Being able to balance work as a para, coursework at UNI, having a second job, spending time with my family, and creating time for myself was never easy. But I overcame all of those challenges by really leaning into my colleagues of the Purple Pathway program because they were going through the same struggles. We really focused on holding each other accountable when it came to completing assignments in a timely manner and also when it was time to put it all aside and focus on the other big rocks in our lives.

How did UNI help you achieve your goals?
Knowing that I could reach out to any and all of my professors after 'contract' hours was super helpful as I was typically working on homework late at night or on the weekend. Having professors that really cared about us as humans and students was also helpful! Most of the professors we had during our two years in the program really viewed us as people and not just as a number on their roster.

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. How do any of these statements ring true for you?
The whole Purple Pathway  ohort #1 has about 65 students. Due to the high interest in this particular program, UNI made a fantastic decision to split the cohort into a Wednesday and Thursday night class. This made professional connections and collaboration much more enjoyable having to only collaborate with 30 peers rather than 65. This also helped all of us build our network of first-year teachers as well. I know I will always be able to reach out to any of my classmates from the Wednesday night section if I need a pick-me-up, to bounce ideas off of, and ask for advice. We are all working adults who have made it through the program together and can now call each other friends!

What’s your best memory of your time at UNI?
As part of the Purple Pathway program, I would say my favorite memory of my last two years was spending every Wednesday night at a classmate's (Stacy Cline) house. Every Wednesday we would get together shortly after school to cook a meal together for her family and myself. We would reflect on our day and remind ourselves of our WHY. Without Stacy I would not have made it through the program with my sanity still intact. Stacy and I were able to laugh through the tough times and remember this isn't forever, it is just for now.

What advice would you give to students considering UNI?
Remember that not all paths are paved for you. Not all paths have been traveled. However, UNI has SO many different opportunities for you to achieve your goals as an educator! No journey is the right journey. Why wait to follow your passions when you can start today?

What's next? 
For the 2024-2025 school year I have accepted a teaching position at Southdale Elementary in Cedar Falls as the 5th/6th grade Strat I special education teacher! I am beyond excited to stay in the district that has poured so much into my education and my journey as an educator!