Why did you choose this degree -- and to pursue this degree at UNI?
As soon as I got into high school I started tutoring younger students and fell in love with teaching. From then on, I knew that I wanted to be a teacher. From there it was an easy decision to go to UNI. I've had past relatives come here as well and they said nothing but great things. I knew UNI was the place for me and teaching was the route I wanted to take.

What path did you take to achieve your degree?
I started out at UNI always knowing I was going to be a teacher. In one of my first-year student classes we talked about different minor options and special education was brought up. I thought that adding a special education minor (instructional strategist 1) would be a great way to make me a better general education teacher, never thinking I would exclusively be a special education teacher. Once I got into my special education field experiences, though, I realized it was the perfect place for me to be. I'm now graduating from UNI with a job already lined up as a K-3 special education teacher and I am so beyond excited.

How did your field experiences and practica prepare you for your career?
Thankfully, the College of Education provides a huge amount of field experiences to prepare you for the real world of teaching. I can't remember a semester where I wasn't in at least one elementary school. I've done my levels 1, 2, and 3 in different elementary classrooms with varying degrees of teaching. I went from just observing to taking over a whole classroom for multiple days. I also was able to participate in the PDS block where you take your methods classes at an elementary school where we were in classrooms every single day. I also spent time in different special education settings through my two special education minor blocks which were mainly small group teaching. I feel so much more prepared to enter my job because of these experiences.

What does completing your degree mean to you?
Teaching has been something that was always a passion of mine. Completing my degree means I finally get to pursue the thing I've been dreaming about for quite a few years. My degree also shows the hard work and dedication that I've put into this college for the past four years and I am incredibly proud of myself for doing so. 

What challenges did you face as you worked toward this degree – and how did you overcome them?
I'm not going to lie, teaching field experiences can be challenging. Stepping into a brand new classroom with brand new faces and being expected to teach in a short amount of time was a learning curve. Having to learn the student's names, the daily schedule, the curriculum, and the ways of the classroom requires a lot of flexibility that I will admit I didn't have when I started at UNI. Each experience was slightly easier as I learned how to mold to my surroundings and take things day by day. I relied on my peers, my professors, and my mentor teachers to help which also made things easier. Don't be afraid to ask for help and ask questions. It is okay if things feel slightly overwhelming the first time you walk into a classroom.

How did UNI help you achieve your goals?
The biggest thing UNI did to help me was to give me the tools to succeed. It can feel at times as you sit in class listening to lectures that you're never going to practically use the information in the real world, but then one day you're in a classroom teaching and that one thing your professor taught you three weeks ago suddenly makes your life so much easier. Especially within special education, there are so many terms, rubrics and small pieces of information that come into play each day as you teach, so being prepared with that knowledge as I entered the classroom greatly helped me.

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?
I completely agree with all of those statements, but one in particular that comes to mind is #4: it is perfectly sized. I graduated high school with a class of 30 students. Coming to a big college was quite literally the scariest thing I had done up until that point. Because this school isn't the same size as Iowa or ISU, I actually was able to learn the names and faces of several students and professors. I didn't enter every new class without at least knowing one or two other people. It felt like a community rather than a bunch of individuals, which made my transition a lot easier as I came from a small community. I felt so at home here and I've enjoyed my time within the small community that UNI has to offer.

What’s your best memory of your time at UNI?
The memory I hold dearest from my time at UNI was all of the relationships that I was able to build here. I met my husband at UNI. I met some of my closest friends and people I will carry with me even after we all graduate. The relationships I built here are all so special and ones that I am fortunate to get to keep for the rest of my life.

What advice would you give to students considering UNI?
The biggest piece of advice I would give is to remember that coming to UNI means that you get to be a part of a community unlike other universities. College can be scary, but UNI made the transition so easy and it felt like home in a matter of days. The people you meet, the professors you work with, and the classes you take are so unlike other universities in Iowa and you won't regret choosing UNI.

What do you plan to do with your degree?
I am fortunate enough that I have accepted a job as a K-3 special education teacher for the Central Springs School District in Manly, Iowa.