Why did you choose UNI?

I chose UNI because my fourth-grade teacher went here and I looked up to her a lot. I knew I wanted to be a teacher and it’s the best teaching school in Iowa. I figured if I’m going to go into teaching I should go to the best place possible to do so. 

What have you enjoyed the most about attending UNI?

I love that it’s not ginormous like some of the other schools, but large enough that there are still plenty of majors, activities, etc going on. I also enjoyed attending all of the events on campus and becoming super close with other panthers.

How did you become interested in your major? 

I originally wanted to get my teaching endorsement in just psychology and maybe economics, but during my first field experience in a classroom, a mentor teacher told me to get my Social Science Teaching degree to have more opportunities when it came to jobs. This would mean that I could teach any social studies class rather than just psychology. I have always loved my social studies classes, so it felt like a good fit for me.

What have been some of your favorite aspects of the major?

My favorite aspect of my major is that it's so diverse because it covers seven endorsements. I feel like I am always learning and experiencing new things. The broad range of topics being covered ensures that I never get bored of it.

How have you been involved outside of the classroom? 

I just finished my student teaching at Hoover Middle School and West High, both in Waterloo. I loved being able to student teach close to campus because it meant that I could still attend all the campus events going on during my student teaching. It also allowed me to be closer to the Waterloo Community and make some really strong connections to fellow teachers and the students.

What professors have been most influential through your time here at UNI?

The professors that were most influential for me while at UNI would be Chad Christopher and Morgan Anderson. Chad was my advisor and professor who assisted me in my methods class which focused primarily on teaching techniques. Chad clearly cares about his students and is always trying to make them better teachers. Morgan Anderson was my professor for my class Schools in American Society which focused on societal structural issues within the public education system. She was clearly incredibly knowledgeable about the content and was extremely passionate about sharing that knowledge with future teachers. She made sure that every student was heard in her classroom and it was a brave space to share our thoughts.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I currently don’t have a job lined up but plan on teaching or substituting in the fall somewhere in Northern Iowa. 

How has UNI/your major helped prepare you for these plans?

UNI has made sure that I have the bachelor requirements to get into the classroom this fall as well as the employability skills that principals look for in new teachers. They have many services to help with interviews and teacher prep to make sure that graduating student teachers are prepared as possible.

What advice would you give to students who are considering this major?

I would absolutely recommend this major to anyone who is considering secondary teaching. I know that it may seem really daunting at first but my advice is to just keep pushing on because the days are long but the years are short.