Katie is a entering her fourth year at Sonoma State who is working towards her degree and credential in Hutchins school of Liberal Studies blended program. As a young cancer survivor, she has begun to make a difference in our local community helping raise $11,459 for cancer research.
She grew up in Morgan Hill, California and would like to see herself pass along her love for education on a global scale by pursuing a teaching career. Her Campus was lucky enough to sit down with Katie and discuss her role in Sonoma State’s Relay for Life and her educational goals.
Her Campus: What do you want to do after graduation?
Katie Pampuch: Part of my plan is potentially going into the Peace Corps, which is a two-year commitment; I’m currently applying to that right now. I can pick the region and the kind of work I would be doing, I would prefer the Latin American region and with education because I figure becoming bilingual in Spanish would be good for a teacher in California. I also have been interested in how other countries control education, how they think of education and implement it. America has this “superiority complex” and we think were better when clearly the scores do not show that, where as places like Sweden are doing so well why aren’t we learning from these countries? Another reason is that it may be good experience for a longer career goal of becoming the US Secretary of Education, which is a position in the President’s cabinet, and I would basically be in charge of the country’s public education system K-12. In the long run I would like to plan on get my masters and PhD.
HC: What would you want to change about our educational system?
KP: I would want to make it not “one size fits all” because we have so many different things for people to do in society and I think he way we set up education now making it easy for the same job and we are then wondering why we don’t have people for certain jobs. We’re making it seem wrong to work in places like fast food and vocations though we need people to do these jobs and we look at it negatively and I would love to change that.
HC: What is Relay for Life?
KP: It is a national event put on the by the American Cancer Society, which is a nonprofit organization. It is a fundraiser to get donations for cancer research and programs for people currently gong through treatment. One program, which I think is really great, is called the Road to Recovery that basically provides people going through treatment free rides to their treatment if they don’t have someone to do that for them. Another one is called Look Good Feel Better, when they’re going through treatment people may not feel like they look their best and they might not want to go out with their friends and this program gives them help with makeup and hair wraps so they feel more confident and comfortable.
HC: What made you interested in Relay for Life?
KP: I’m interested in relay for life specifically because I am a cancer survivor and participating in a program which helps finds cures for cancer, its really nice to see this organization and fundraiser to help find a cure. I started out when I was about 7 years old, and on and off until I came to Sonoma State when I joined the club Colleges Against Cancer. I ended up being one of the co-event leads because the original event lead had stepped down and someone else said, ‘I want to do it but someone else needs to do it with me’ and I said, ‘Oh hey, I’ll do it!’ which was a very interesting experience because I had never done it behind the scenes before. We have to get sponsorships from people who can donate money or supplies to get the event going. One thing that we like donated is sand, because we do the luminary bags, which we fill with sand with the candle so they don’t blow over in the wind. Money helps with survivor packets with tee shirts, candles, and magnets that say ‘A World With More Birthdays’ for the survivors. We plan out all the different activities and look for clubs on campus to help out with entertainment like we had the Sapphires perform this year and line dancing! People who help out make the event really great; if anyone wants to join we’re looking for anyone!