Love at First Sight
I just fell in love with Mount Union at first sight. It is a beautiful campus. Additionally, early contact with professors and students made me feel as though I already had a community there before I was even a student. I love the small campus community at Mount Union, and never like I was just another number. Looking back, this was just the type of environment I needed at that time in my life. It gave me the opportunity to grow, while still being supported by all of the staff, faculty, and other students at Mount Union. Today, I feel completely comfortable still reaching out to my Mount Union faculty when I need their help. The connections I made at Mount Union will truly never go away.
Honors Program Prepared for Future
When thinking about my time at Mount Union, participating in both the Honors Program and Honors Council were critical experiences that prepared me for graduate school and a career in academia. Small class sizes and class discussions facilitated closer relationships with professors and deep, critical thinking. This close relationship with faculty and class discussion format resembles what I am now experiencing in my graduate coursework, and I believe being in the Honors Program set me up for greater success in these courses.
Pursuing Another Degree
Along with working on my own research and coursework, I also work as a teaching assistant and assist with some faculty research at Indiana University. Working with some of the greatest scholars in my area has been one of my favorite parts about graduate school thus far. Getting to know and work closely with the faculty at Mount Union allowed me to feel more comfortable with the faculty at my current institution as well.
Aside from finishing my graduate degrees, my biggest goal is getting my first publication. Publishing in academia is never easy, however my time in both the Honors Program and working in the writing center (or DWOC) at Mount Union has given me important skills in writing and editing to help me reach this goal.