Why did you choose this degree -- and to pursue this degree at UNI?
I’ve always wanted to be a teacher and I chose UNI because I could complete everything in 3 years and they have a good representation for creating great teachers!

What kind of path did you take to achieve your degree (always knew this was what you wanted, discovered your passion along the way?)
I’ve always known I wanted to be a teacher, so knew this was the right path for me from the very beginning.

If you had an internship/practicum/field experience, describe your experience and how it has prepared you for your career.
All of my experiences have given me more insight on the real teaching world and have been super helpful!

What does completing your degree mean to you?
Finishing my degree means a lot because it’s me finally reaching my lifelong dream of becoming a teacher, and I’m ready to start making a difference in my students’ lives.

What challenges did you face as you worked toward this degree – and how did you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was balancing coursework, student teaching, and everything else going on in life, but I overcame it by staying organized, managing my time well, and leaning on support from others when I needed it.

How did UNI help you achieve your goals?
UNI helped me achieve my goals by giving me hands-on experience in the classroom, supportive professors, and opportunities to grow into a confident and prepared teacher.

We often say UNI is ... 1) student focused; 2) a place where professors care--and teach; 3) a place where learning happens in and out of the classroom;  and 4) is perfectly sized. Do you have an example or experience of how one or more of these statements rings true for you?
One way this rang true for me is how student-focused UNI is—during my student teaching and classes, my professors were always supportive, gave helpful feedback, and genuinely cared about helping me grow, both in the classroom and through real teaching experiences.

What’s your best memory of your time at UNI?
Meeting my best friends!

What advice would you give to students considering UNI?
UNI is a great place to learn and grow as a teacher because the professors truly care, you get a lot of hands-on classroom experience, and you’ll feel supported while preparing for your career.

What do you plan to do with your degree? Do you already know next steps/have a position?
I plan to teach somewhere in the Des Moines area.