Why did you choose this degree -- and to pursue this degree at UNI?
I have always wanted to be a teacher, so I knew right away that I wanted to pursue a degree in education. I chose UNI because it was the best fit for me all around. I had also heard so many incredible things about the College of Education and all the benefits of the program! 

What path did you take to achieve your degree?
I have always had a passion for teaching and working with the next generation. However, through my time at UNI my passion for teaching and education only grew with every experience and opportunity that was offered to me. 

Describe your clinical and field experiences and how they prepared you for your career.
Every opportunity I had to be in the classroom over the last four years has been a huge benefit and has further prepared me for my career in teaching. All of my field experiences gave me a real-life taste of the career I would be going into and the more field experience I had, the more confident I felt in my teaching abilities!

What does completing your degree mean to you?
Completing this degree means more than words can say. I am the first person in my family to earn a degree in education and I wouldn't have been able to do this without their love and support! I am proud to have earned my degree from UNI!

What challenges did you face as you worked toward this degree – and how did you overcome them?
There were many times over the last four years that felt overwhelming and discouraging. I went through many challenging times in both my academic and personal life during my time at UNI. To overcome this I would have to remind myself of my purpose and goal for being at UNI. I also really leaned into my community that I built during my early time at UNI and they helped me through more than I can ever thank them for! I also leaned on my support system at home, specifically my parents who were constant pillars of support and strength when I needed it. 

How did UNI help you achieve your goals?
UNI offered countless opportunities and services to set me up for success! Every professor and faculty member associated with the College of Education did what they could to best support and encourage me. UNI played a huge part in helping me achieving my goals. 

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 one or more of these statements ring true for you?
In all honesty, I have felt all four of those statements ring true for me over the last four years. To be more specific, I had several professors that took time to get to know myself and peers as individuals and taught us not only how to best serve our future students, but also how to best take care of ourselves. Additionally, I learned a great deal when engaging with content within the walls of the classroom, but also learned an immense amount outside of the classroom through field experiences and in conversations with my peers. I felt as though I was learning in every capacity possible at UNI!

What’s your best memory of your time at UNI?
I think it's impossible to pick one memory over the last several years because I have enough memories from UNI to last a lifetime. One that ranks high for me is the Big Events I attended for UNI Dance Marathon. It's so inspiring to see and be a part of a community that fights for such a remarkable cause. As well as any time and memories I created with my college roommates. They are some of the best people I met at UNI and they are now lifelong friends! 

What advice would you give to students considering UNI?
I think the best advice that I can give to students who are considering UNI is to really think about what you want to accomplish in college. Once you have your goals in mind, figure out what college is going to best support and challenge you in the process. Chances are pretty high that UNI will be a great fit! 

Next steps?
I plan to become a classroom teacher upon completion of my degree! After I finish student teaching I will being applying and interviewing for open positions in the Des Moines area. Eventually, I plan to get my master's as well!