What were your initial thoughts when you came to York? How would you describe the person you were when you first came to York? 

My first thoughts about YU was I'm not going there, just because I've grown up here. I went to Concordia my freshman year and then when I came here, it was like a totally different place. I didn't know anybody. I didn't know any of the buildings. I literally knew nothing on my visit. I never even thought of York as an option, but now that I'm here, it's such a welcoming family environment and I love it so much. The person I was when I first came to York was probably a little more to myself, but now that I'm here and around so many different people and so many different cultures, I feel like I've opened up a lot.

 

What is your favorite spot to be on campus and why? 

Probably the gym because I'm on the basketball team and I'm there literally 24/7. I mean, even if we're not having practice or playing games, I'm still in there just like getting shots up or even just hanging out in the locker room with my friends, literally always there. We have a very cool locker room.

 

What were you involved in during your time at YU? 

Basketball, obviously. Honestly, anything that I get asked to be involved in, I'll do. Besides, like, theater and all that stuff, because I'm not talented in those types of things. But if I'm asked to go do something for someone, I'm going to go do it. I’ve been involved in a lot of things around campus. I kept busy with basketball, classes, student teaching and gaining field experience.

 

What was the best class that you took here on campus?

I do not like history, but Dr. Pack made it so fun. It was literally like I was sitting in a movie every day with his acting. I actually got an A in his class which is not normal for my history class experience. The best class I took was probably my adapted PE class because we get the opportunity to go to the local elementary, middle, and high schools and teach kids adapted PE activities, so that was super fun.

 

What were the biggest takeaways that you got from YU? 

The home family environment and learning from all the different people that are around me. I got so much from, I mean, even just my teammates. It's so diverse and it's just so cool to be around so many different people who aren't from the same place as you. You're just able to learn so much from them. I think the biggest takeaway is just to be open to people around you and be willing to learn from others.

 

What have you discovered is your purpose and mission after your time at York? And how did you realize what those were to you? 

I think my purpose and mission after my time at work is to teach students while also teaching them who Christ is through my teaching. I hope that they can learn that PE is a good thing and that they can use it after they graduate high school. And to know that God is with them all the time. I hope that I can involve that in my teaching. I realized what my purpose was when I got here and I was reminded how important teachers are and the impact that they leave on students.

 

What are your plans after you graduate? 

I plan to teach and coach. My degree is in K-12, so I’m happy with wherever I get placed, but hopefully elementary school. I love teaching elementary kids, but if I teach high school, I would love to do that as well. And then I hope to coach a middle school basketball team to start. I teach a club team in the summer that's middle school girls and I just love them because it's filled with learning the fundamentals. They’re still growing up and learning how to be kids. I want to help nurture them and grow them in those important stages of life. With that, I would love to stay close to home after I graduate. I love being around my family and all of the small-town vibes. I’ve always loved it and I can’t imagine being anywhere different.

 

 

If you could talk to the version of yourself visiting campus for the first time, what would you say?

I came on my visit in the summer, so I didn’t get to see all the people. But there's always somebody walking on campus, even if you don't see them right now. I would take her to the Freeman Center and tell her how special of a place it is. About how fun the gameday environment is during home basketball games. Even if we're down by 30, we still have so many people in the crowd cheering for us. Also, anytime you’re walking across campus, someone will stop and ask you how your game went the day before. The people here are your biggest supporters. Everyone here is just so nice. I don’t think I’ve ever talked with someone on campus who wasn’t nice to me and I think a lot of people would agree with that. I know I’ve already mentioned it but I would tell her about the family environment here at YU, and that’s not just me saying that but you’ll love everybody here.

 

What is the legacy that you hope to leave behind here at YU?

If you're from York, don't look past the school. I know it's hard to go to college in the same school or the same town that you've lived in your whole entire life. I mean, I've lived here for 20 plus years and I'm still here. But don't look past it because it's such an amazing environment that you want to be in. Even if you're not involved in a million things, you're still involved in a million things because the campus is so welcoming and encouraging. Everybody is so friendly, so I just hope that I leave like that. To know that I'm from York and I went to this school. I hope that other people can look at that and be like, “Oh! Maybe it is a good place. Maybe I do like it, actually”. You will like it. You will think differently than when you first thought about it.