Hi Madison, so where are you from?
I’m from Menlo Park, California.
What made you want to come to UP for college?
I wanted to find a school where you can get an internship your freshman year to be a teacher. UP has a great Came from a small Catholic school. I like that it is a short flight from home. There are a lot of fun things to do in Portland.
What kind of fun things do you like to do in Portland?
I like running on the St. John’s Bridge. I like Powell’s, because I love to read. Recently I read “The Girl on the Train” and it was so suspenseful that I could not put it down! Also, the food in Portland is amazing! There are always fun events on campus or off. There is never a shortage of activities. So there is no excuse to be bored!
What kind of clubs are you involved in on campus?
I am a writer for HerCampus. I’ve always loved writing, so that is an outlet for me. I’ve done creative writing camps during the summer when I was a kid. I was planning on earning a minor in English here but that was so much work that it didn’t fit too well with my schedule. But with HerCampus, you can choose what you want to write about and it’s relaxing. There’s no stress that is associated with having English or writing classes. So, with HerCampus, I’m in the driver’s seat.
You love English, and that involves teaching. Can you tell me more about that?
I have been in after school programs, kindergarten, 4th, 2nd, and 1st grades. So, I have had the opportunity to experience different grade levels. I came here wondering what grade would be the best fit for me to teach. This year, I might have found my fit because in kindergarten the kids need your help more than kids in other grades. You need to be able to communicate well with the teacher. You can be stuck in the role of the observer if you don’t have a good relationship with your supervisor teacher. In the past I’ve been in that position, and that is more rewarding to be an active helper. We just had a Valentine’s Day party and it was so fun!
I was in a first grade classroom my freshman year. They all made me cards on my birthday. But when it came time to the semester end, and I had to move on, they again made cards saying how they really appreciated me. One little girl even cried. This all made me feel like I was making a difference and I was where I was supposed to be. Overall, I’m just really happy when the kids succeed. Now that I’m in a classroom for a whole year I’ve seen the growth of all the kids. It doesn’t matter what specific level they’re on because they’re all on different levels. What matters is that you’re able to see how much they grow in the span of a year. I’m in the kindergarten class now and you reach a lot of milestones in kindergarten. Next year, as a senior, I’ll be in the classroom five days a week and designing lesson plans. It will be a whole new experience and I’m looking forward to it!