• Hometown: Middletown, OH
• High School: Madison High School
• Class: 2026
• Major: Primary Education
• Current Place of Employment: STEAM Studio Miami University

Why Miami University?

I chose Miami University’s regional campuses for a few reasons. Miami is known for having a really good Education program for those wanting to be future educators, and the Hamilton campus currently has a cohort program to take Oxford classes in Hamilton. This allowed me to form a really strong and close community with others in my same field of work, and attend classes close to home.

How did you choose your major?

I've always known I have wanted to be a teacher. Growing up, I had some of the best teachers who made my experiences in school the best experiences of my life. When I was struggling, I had amazing teachers and a school community that poured into me academically and emotionally, really setting me up for success in all ways. I knew that this was the person I wanted to be for others, and I've always felt that it was my calling to go into education to be a positive light for my own students. Once I knew I wanted to be a teacher and determined the age range that I felt most suited me, it made choosing a major an absolute breeze.

How have any faculty, staff, or mentors at the University played a significant role in your journey?

Amie Earls, one of my professors at the Hamilton campus, has played the biggest role in shaping me as a college student and as a future educator. Not only was her class one of the most well-structured courses I've taken, but she is one of the most encouraging professors I have ever met. She pours into her students in any way she can, and is able to be real and honest about the struggles we will face going into the field of education. While this was amazing, what really set her apart from other professors is that while she could speak about the difficulties we will face, she also set a positive example of how to get support and still find so much joy in the work we do. During a time like now, where we face a national teacher shortage and an overwhelming amount of teacher burnout, having a professor who was so excited and encouraging made all the difference in keeping the spark and preparedness for teaching going.

Other Notable Experience 

Being the secretary for the Education Club has been a great way to be involved with others in my same major, to brainstorm ideas for the campus, and get resources out to future educators. It has also given me a good feel for what professional meetings will be like and has provided me with insights into different local school districts, as well as experiences with practice interviews directly applying to my field of work. Also, my time as a counselor for Miami's Summer STEAM Studio has been amazing for me as a primary education major. In this position, I work with students from second through 10th grades, which has given me so many skills in communicating with a diverse range of students, organizing groups, and building leadership skills. From this job on campus, I have a binder full of resources such as lesson plans, practical first aid protocol, and educational/team-building games that I will be able to take with me into my future work as a teacher.

Advice to Prospective Students

​​My biggest piece of advice for students is that you can do more than you think you can if you plan your time right. It is so easy to get busy and overwhelmed in college, with things like work, friends, sports, extracurriculars, and all of the activities/assignments we have, no matter what your major is. But it is all doable. There have been times during the last three years as a student that I have felt like I was just failing at everything. I was busy and didn't have time to sit down and do school work, or if I did, I didn't know how to study; it just felt pointless. If you do your school work as it comes, don't let it pile up, and just focus a tiny bit more in classes each day, you WILL succeed. I am not a person who has academics come easy to me. I have to study and work hard, which I think will help me in my job as a teacher. I do my best when I take time for myself, but also pour into my assignments. A work-life balance, or in this case, a "school-life" balance, is absolutely key. It may take some trial and error, but once you find a system that works for you, it becomes more manageable. The biggest thing I did for myself was create a time system to get my assignments done during the week so I could have my weekends to myself. As tempting as it is, don't wait to do that paper due on Sunday at 11:59 PM until Saturday night, and learn that it’s okay to say no to going out sometimes. Prioritize yourself, you are worth it!

How have you used what you learned in different subjects to solve a problem or come up with a new idea?

I have taken a creative writing class and an art history class which both allowed me to think about how I will be able to use creative skills in different ways as a teacher. In these classes we focused a lot on symbolism which is something I will teach about in ELA courses, and they have provided me new ways to go about explaining these ideas.

How have your experiences at Miami helped you develop an entrepreneurial mindset — like being resilient, adaptable, or willing to take risks?

Being resilient, adaptable, and willing to take risks are things that we are taught to do often as students. As a primary education major, these are skills I will need each and every day. Navigating through different courses, going out and having experiences teaching in different schools as part of my education program, and even just doing different types of coursework have helped me to understand what being adaptable looks like and how to take healthy risks. Using these skills as they apply can be a good thing that can provide a lot of opportunities. You miss every shot you don't take, so in my time at Miami, I have learned to become involved, make friends, and focus on prioritizing myself.

How have you used your knowledge or skills from Miami to positively impact your community or the world around you?

In my time in college, I have really learned that it’s important to have a good support system. Sometimes our support comes from friends or family, but sometimes it’s the systems of support we create for ourselves through self-advocacy. In the last few years, I have really worked on coming out of my shell, being more outgoing, and doing things to help myself and others around me. Not only does this include a large growth in my own communication skills, but I have learned what it looks like to be professional in and out of a workplace setting, thanks to the support I have around me at Miami, which has continued to positively impact me.