student voices

Why I Chose CU Boulder: Davis Gidney

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 23:39:03 +0000

Why I Chose CU Boulder: Davis Gidney Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 04/25/2018 - 17:39

My name is Davis and I’m from Frisco, Colorado. I’m currently majoring in International Affairs and completing the licensure program in secondary social studies. This coming May, I will be graduating from the University and will be student teaching at Fox Ridge Middle School this coming fall.

My journey to attend the University of Colorado Boulder was a long and tumultuous path. Senior year of high school, I applied to 15 different colleges across the nation. After receiving acceptance letters and visiting the subsequent schools, my choice of colleges was down to two. I postponed the decision until the last possible day, May 1st. I created a list of pros and cons and contemplated each choice thoroughly. After countless hours of confusion, I came to the realization that I was meant to be a Buff. I remember walking onto the CU Boulder campus and feeling a sense of belonging. I could see myself studying in Norlin Library, eating in the C4C and most importantly, finding my niche. This realization made my choice simple, I would go to the University of Colorado at Boulder.

These last few years at the University of Colorado have been chalked full of amazing adventures, numerous opportunities for growth and the creation of life-long friendships. Initially, I entered the University of Colorado as an Integrative Physiology major. I was convinced I would one day become an anesthesiologist. However, after my first semester, I came to the realization that medicine simply wasn’t for me. After copious amounts of soul searching, I discovered International Affairs. I loved traveling and found politics extremely interesting.

After a year and a half of being enrolled in the International Affairs Program, I realized I wanted something more. I sorted through the numerous programs that CU had to offer. None of them interested me until I found the Education Licensure Program. I realized that all of my favorite teachers growing up were social studies teachers and I wanted to be just like them. This turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I have enjoyed all of the classes and each professor has been incredibly impactful.

I’m currently finishing up my last semester of school and couldn’t be more excited about my future. I have loved the friends I’ve made in the program and the lessons I’ve learned have been priceless. I am so thankful that I attended CU and found the Teacher Licensure Program in the School of Education.

~ Davis Gidney

International Affairs and Secondary Teacher Licensure Student, 2018

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Why I Chose CU Boulder: Anisah Spahn

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 23:34:56 +0000

Why I Chose CU Boulder: Anisah Spahn Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 04/25/2018 - 17:34

I never thought that I would become a teacher, because while I always loved learning, I never loved going to school. I knew that I wanted to work with refugees and recent immigrants, as my mom came to the United States as a refugee, but I didn’t know how I could do that. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I volunteered at a magnet school for recent immigrants in Denver that I discovered my passion for education and teaching. I worked in a newcomer classroom, and between lessons I was able to talk to the students and hear their stories. As the only Muslim student, and one of a few students of color, I didn’t ever feel as though my identities mattered at school and never felt comfortable sharing my identities. When it came time to pick a college, I chose CU Boulder in part for the School of Education. Its focus and philosophy match up exactly with my goals as an educator. I want to be a teacher so I can help students like myself see themselves represented in the classroom, and to feel as though their background an

d identities are valued in the classroom and help shape the classroom culture.

I also chose CU Boulder for the opportunities it provides to experience a small university feel at a large institution. As a humanities major, I have the opportunity to study two fields, English literature and a second field that I created in the department on the ethical treatment of animals.

On campus, I love serving as an ambassador for the School of Education. I am also the student administrative assistant for the Honors Residential Academic Program and a student leader for the program, and in those roles I plan events for first year students. I have also worked with the Denver Dumb Friends League animal shelter and the Native American Rights Fund.

The classes and practicum experiences I have received through the CU Boulder School of Education and my various roles on campus and off campus, have given me the skills and confidence necessary to enact positive change. CU Boulder’s focus on advancing educational equity has given me the tools I need to do just that and be the best educator that I can. I also hope to combat structural oppression, and I believe that teaching is the perfect way to do so. I cannot wait to become the teacher who encourages students to be proud of who they are.

~ Anisah Spahn

Humanities and Elementary Education Teacher Licensure Student, 2018

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Why I Chose CU Boulder: Hannah Rieder

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 23:08:58 +0000

Why I Chose CU Boulder: Hannah Rieder Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 04/25/2018 - 17:08

My name is Hannah Rieder and I am from Longmont, Colorado. I have wanted to be a teacher since elementary school. I remember “playing school” with my sisters and friends all the time. I didn’t know that I wanted to specialize in math until high school, but after taking many math classes from both wonderful and not so wonderful teachers, I knew that I wanted to be like one of the wonderful teachers who inspired me. More than that though, I wanted to make math engaging and accessible to as many students as I could.

When junior year came and I had to start thinking about college, I knew that I wanted to stay in Colorado. When I first started looking into CU Boulder, I wasn’t sure it was the right atmosphere for me, and I was worried about being able to find a community. As I began to explore what CU Boulder had to offer, I found that it possessed a lot of qualities I was looking for in my college experience. First, it has a great marching band which was important to me. Second, I was interested by what the School of Education and Mathematics Department in the College of Arts and Sciences had to offer. What really drew me to the School of Education was the courses I would be able to take before actually applying to the school. You need to have a certain number of credits to apply for the School of Education so I applied spring of my freshman year. During that year though, I was able to take two education classes, both of which allowed me to actually work in elementary and middle school math and science classrooms as a freshman. These experiences were valuable because they confirmed my desire to work in education. The Math Department satisfied what I was looking for in my math degree and math education track, and I am able to take a large amount of high level classes that challenge me and improve my math skills and my problem-solving skills. These qualities of CU Boulder gave me confidence that I would be able to find a community within the university.

Now, I am a junior with two semesters of classes and one semester of student teaching left until I graduate. I added a minor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. I am studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark this summer where I will be taking a class about children with special needs and two amazing biology classes about glaciers and the Arctic. I have been in marching band and the basketball pep band since freshman year, joined Student Ambassadors, the Annex (a student ministry), Kappa Kappa Psi (the National Honorary Band Fraternity), and I am working two jobs. I have had opportunities to travel with the marching and basketball band to Washington, California, Texas, and Nevada. The marching band has blessed me with a second family that I could not picture my college career without. Student Ambassadors, the Annex, my coworkers and my classmates have all provided me with loving and welcoming environments that have given me a college experience that I have thrived in and love.

~ Hannah Rieder

Mathematics and Teacher Licensure Student, 2019

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