Getting to Know Our Students: Meet Samantha Zingsheim

This year, we are spending time getting to know our students! You can get to know more of our students and our faculty/ staff on previous posts. Read on to meet Samantha, one of our current freshmen!

My name is Samantha Zingsheim and I am from Grayslake, Illinois! I have lived in Milwaukee for about two week now, and absolutely love it. One word to describe my family is small because I’m an only child. However, I really enjoy spending time and having meals with my family whenever I am home. At home, I work as a nursing assistant at a senior living center. I love the people and the opportunity to learn. A big challenge is being patient and calm in difficult situations, but I know these skills will come in handy in my future career!

My favorite educational experience is anytime my classes have debates and discussions, specifically in my Philosophy class. This year, I’m excited to try a bunch of new things while in college and take different classes to help me narrow down my career choice. I’m still unsure of what my specific majors will be, but I know I love helping people and being a teacher is one of my top choices!

In my free time, I really like to write! I take a lot of inspiration from my surroundings and the kind of life I envision myself having one day. For me, I enjoy writing pieces of any length and find that it comes easy to me when I’m writing about something that either happened to me or something that I have experienced. My biggest inspiration is a famous writer (whom I take a lot of my inspiration from), named Rupi Kaur. She has written many amazing pieces on the human emotions and I hope that maybe my writing can be more intuitive and raw like hers.

I hope despite the challenges we all face this year that we all make the best of it and have a great year!

Getting to Know Our Students: Meet Emma Fisher

This year, we are spending time getting to know our students! You can get to know more of our students and our faculty/ staff on previous posts. Read on to meet Emma, one of our current juniors!

My name is Emma and I am from Buckner, Kentucky. I have lived in Milwaukee the past two years and have loved every moment of it! My family members are my biggest supporters. I enjoy chatting with my mom on the daily about what I am doing, as well as what she is doing. My dad is someone I look up to and want to be like when I am older. My brother is goofy and we love to go on some wild adventures.

Whenever I am free, I really enjoy nannying. I love this because I get to connect with families as well as children. I not only get to play and help them use their imagination, but I get to also help them with school work and learning which is great practice for being a future teacher! I also have really been getting into crafting lately. I enjoy painting and when I come up with a project, it is calming and provides me an outlet for myself to think and admire the things that I can do. Some advice I would give to those who are interested in crafting would be to just use your feelings and passions to paint. It really only needs to fulfill your needs and wants and if you can do that, you will have a beautiful piece of art.

My favorite educational experience was when I was in 5th grade. We were learning about “taxation without representation” and we showed up to class and had to use our “classroom money”. It was just a really great activity that really taught me a lot about the Revolutionary War.

I think an exciting opportunity for this upcoming year is learning about how schools and students are utilizing technology in these uncertain times. This is going to be a huge change that could be made in the field of education and allows all who are involved to see different ways to incorporate technology.

What drew me to the College of Education was the welcoming people and the feeling of acceptance it gave me. When I first thought about transferring into the college, I was nervous. But once I walked into Tina’s office, I felt like the College of Education was exactly where I needed to be. There were so many opportunities within the college to really understand what I would be doing the rest of my life.

My parents are my inspiration. They have worked so hard to be able to provide for my brother and I. I also want to say that my parents have gone through major changes and despite that, they continually would show love and forgiveness. This is something I want to be able to do for not only my family, but everyone I come in contact with.

Getting to Know Our Students: Meet Daniel Ham

This year, we are spending time getting to know our students! You can get to know more of our students and our faculty/ staff on previous posts. Read on to meet Daniel, one of our current seniors!

My name is Daniel and I am a current senior in the College of Education. I am from Schaumburg, IL, but have been living in Milwaukee the past few years. My family is a spectrum of different personalities ranging from shy to completely unreserved. We all complement each other by being so diverse. We understand how each individual shows support and love whether it be through physical touch, tangible gifts, time, or affirmation. We sometimes know each other too well, and provokes conflict. We try to read each other’s intentions and make accusations out of frustration. Despite these shortcomings, my family condones being unique, weird, creative, and being the difference. 

I have a job on campus which is working at the front desk at the Marq. What I love is the flexibility of scheduling and my coworkers (and boss (Beau)). I love being able to converse with residents whether it be forming new relationships or a simply recognizing familiar face. Some challenges involve being able to handle issues immediately without panicking. Ensuring residents are feeling safe and satisfied with the hospitality.

My favorite educational experience was when we researched and presented to our peers on how to incorporate contemporary social media apps into every day teaching with Dr. Burant. We were able to engage our future students through mediums that they use everyday. Despite COVID-19, I’m excited to discuss more ideas to incorporate into teaching. Seeing familiar faces through a screen is also a plus. I’m also in a program called Global Village in which I meet international students and bond with them during their academic stay. My favorite teachers at my high school attended Marquette pursuing a teaching degree, so I felt inspired to come here and learn what my past teachers have learned from this college.

Outside of academics, I take photos whether it be for graduation, headshot, portrait, or collaborations. Photography allows me to communicate how I perceive the world without really using language. I find the concept of time so simple yet so profound and my camera allows me to pause a moment in time and appreciate the color, subject, emotion, message, etc. Advice is to find communities and people who also share the same passion and you’ll find better opportunities along the way. I’m always available too- @danielhham. My inspirations for my work is Frank Sinatra, Jessica Kobeissi, and David Dobrik. Frank’s music gives me a feeling of euphoria and inspires me to constantly be creative. Jessica gives me practical advice and ideas about photography. David, like me and many others, grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, and seeing him having fun and being successful motivates me to take risks and persist in pursuing your passion.

Some advice for the readers I have is to seize opportunities despite the odds being against you. Accepting one opportunity will grant you twice as more opportunities.

Getting to Know Our Students: Meet Samantha Lupo

This year, we are spending time getting to know our students! You can get to know more of our students and our faculty/ staff on previous posts. Read on to meet Samantha, one of our current juniors!

My name is Samantha Lupo and I am a current Junior in the College of Education. I am from Arlington Heights, IL, and have lived there my entire life. My family is very close knit and we love to spend time together, which made it hard to go to college a few hours away! I was supposed to be working at the Kensington School, which is a daycare/preschool as a teacher’s assistant. However, due  to COVID-19, I have not been able to work.

My favorite educational experience at Marquette has been Service Learning because unlike other schools I had looked at, we are given the opportunity to experience what it is like to be a teacher. I have had a great times meeting so many students throughout the different classroom experiences which makes me look forward to the future. For this upcoming fall, I have been excited about working with another teacher at a new service learning location. I really value the different teaching styles I have been able to learn and the ideas I have gathered to use in the future for my own classes.

I was drawn to Marquette because the campus was one of the only ones that felt right. The first and only time I visited Marquette, it was always at the top of my college list. Although the College of Education is small at Marquette, I felt as though it would give me a better opportunity to meet more people who are as passionate about education as I am.

When I am outside of the classroom I love to hang out with friends. Whether we would go out for dinner downtown or stay in and order a pizza for a movie night, my friends and I love to spend as much time together as possible.

My parents have always been my inspiration to keep pushing through and always trying my best. As for my inspiration to become an educator, my favorite teacher in high school had such a positive impact on my life not only from an educational standpoint but also on a more personal level. I wanted to be able to have that same kind of relationship with future students of mine on top of being able to share my knowledge in my content area.

Want to learn more about our undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Education? Visit us online or schedule a virtual meeting!

Getting to Know Our Students: Meet Nelly Gilhooly

This year, we are spending time getting to know our students! You can get to know more of our students and our faculty/ staff on previous posts. Read on to meet Nelly, one of our current sophomores!

My name is Nelly Gilhooly, and I am a current sophomore in the College of Education. I am from Mount Prospect, IL, and have lived there for my entire life. At home, I am surrounded by my loving family. I actually have a family history at Marquette, which is what drew me to come here. I remember the College of Education was very opening and welcoming when I toured which made me feel confident in my college decision. 

I would have to say favorite educational experience is watching the excitement on a child’s face when they flake a connection. I think it is very meaningful and reminds me of the impactful work educators do each day. I am very much looking forward to the day I am able to get back in local classrooms and work with children again. My family has truly guided me and makes me inspired to become an educator. They have done so much to support me throughout all of my life, and I cannot wait to do the same for my future students.

Getting to Know Our Students: Meet Kelsie Kasky

The new school year is just about here, and we’re excited to welcome the Class of 2024 to campus! We’ve been spending time getting to know our students (catch up on our entire “Getting to Know” series), and we’re thrilled to introduce you to one of our newest students, Kelsie Kasky.

I grew up as a Shorewood, Illinois resident, but I spent much of my time in the Joliet area. I am thrilled to be a new Milwaukee resident in Straz Tower as a Freshman!

I am a fraternal triplet, and we are all girls. My family consists of my dad (Harvey), mom (Jodi-Ann), sisters (Julie-Ann and Hailey), cat (Kali), dog (Hazel), and I have an older half-sister (Jen). Over the summer I babysat, which is something I have been doing for many years and I love it! I plan to achieve an on-campus job once I arrive.

My favorite educational experience would have to be Socratic Seminars because I love analyzing texts or having deep discussions that further explore my analyses and open my eyes to other people’s points of view. I cannot wait to learn many new things and work toward my future as a teacher. I also cannot wait to make new friends and become a part of the wonderful Marquette community.

I fell in love with Marquette upon my very first visit. During the tour, I had the visceral feeling that caused me to forget I was somewhere new, which certainly allowed me to look forward to calling MU my home for the next four years. I love Marquette’s commitment to service and the motto to “Be You,” which is something I say frequently. I was drawn to the College of Education after a discussion I had with my Freshman Year English teacher, who helped me realize that teaching English is my passion! I have always looked up to my teachers; they inspire me in school AND in life, and I cannot wait to impact my future students even half as wonderfully as the impact my teachers had/have on me.

I love to dance! I have been dancing for 16 years, and I am going to continue my passion by being a dance minor. I also love making music, spending time with friends and family, riding my bike, reading, and adventuring.

My inspiration for my work and passion is my family, teachers, and truly all those who have positively impacted my life. I am blessed to say that many people have been a part of shaping me into the woman I am today, and I cannot wait to continue returning that positive energy for the people in my life!

Always BE YOU! ❤

Getting to Know Our Students: Meet Felicia Homan

This year, we are spending time getting to know our students! You can get to know more of our students and our faculty/ staff on previous posts. Read on to meet Felicia, a graduate student in our Student Affairs in Higher Education program. 

I was born and raised in Janesville, WI. Growing up, I spent a lot of time between good ol’ Wisconsin and visiting family in Mexico. Later, I went to undergrad at Carroll University (not too far from Marquette) and spent a year abroad in Rome, Italy. I moved to Milwaukee about a year ago for the start of my master’s program and to begin my graduate assistantship at UWM.

My husband and I have been married for four years, and we have an old man cat (Howard) and a husky (Lexi). I also have a very close-knit family and I love them dearly.

After undergrad, I spent two years working at UW-Madison in the College of Engineering. When I decided to come back to grad school, I applied to the Student Affairs in Higher Education (SAHE) program at Marquette, and I will be starting my second (and last!) year come Fall. I’m the graduate assistant for Campus Activities Board at UWM during the academic year. Also, this summer, I’m currently working as a graduate assistant at Marquette with the College of Education SPARK program and at UWM as a graduate assistant working on summer and Fall Welcome events. I love that I get to have so many different experiences in higher ed but it’s been a struggle to transition everything virtual amid the pandemic.

I love the theory-to-practice model within the SAHE program. I get to apply what I’m learning in the classroom to my various experiences in higher ed. This model in conjunction to the cohort model is what drew me to Marquette. Shout out to Orange Cups.

My favorite educational experience was my study abroad program to Rome, Italy. This experience guides me to this day and has sparked my interest in pursuing a career working in international education in higher ed. I also picked up the travel bug while I was at it. This year, I’m very excited to use the knowledge that I’ve gained in my educational program to start tackling the search for full-time employment!

I love to travel and be adventurous! Whether that’s skydiving over the Swiss Alps, cliff-jumping in the Mediterranean, getting lost in a new city, or trying all kids of new foods- my name is written all over it. I’ve been fortunate to be able to travel to 17 countries and I’m always looking for new places to go- you should see my bucket list. My advice for anybody interested in traveling or getting out there is to take the leap. There’s always going to be a reason to not do something and the circumstances may never be perfect, but you have to take a leap of faith that everything will work out but also to be okay with it if they don’t. Don’t live to regret the “what if’s.”

Interested in learning more about our Student Affairs in Higher Education Program? Check us out online or reach out to chat!

 

Quarantine Book Recommendations from a School Counselor

By Sabrina Bartels

Ever since mid-March, my life (like everyone else’s) has been turned upside down. One day, I was sitting in my office, talking to students about grades and schedule changes; the next, I was sitting at home, trying to figure out how to use Zoom and Google Hangouts to stay connected with my students and their families. Counseling from my living room for the last three months of school was something I never thought I would experience, and it’s definitely different.

However, I’ve been doing my best to find silver linings to this unprecedented quarantine, and one of them is that I’ve had more time to read. If you are looking for something to enhance your counseling practice, or just want an intriguing page turner, here are some of my suggestions.

Books for Work

1. Help for Billy: A Beyond Consequences Approach to Helping Challenging Children in the Classroom by Heather T. Forbes, LCSW. A really great read about the effects of trauma on children. It looks at a “traditional” view of things in the classroom, and then how we can revamp to a “new” view that encompasses ways to care for children who are victims of trauma. I’ve read this book multiple times and find all of the strategies really helpful!
2. Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World by Rosalind Wiseman. This book has been a lifesaver for me. Drama usually peaks in middle school, and this book helps address it. It also looks at some of the potential causes of drama, how to navigate those “tough love” conversations, and offers tips and ideas for parents of all girls, whether their daughter is the queen bee or the victim. There are also stories and quotes from teens throughout the book, who talk about how everything feels from their perspective.
3. Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond – and How Parents Can Help by Phyllis L. Fagell, LCPC. The book was originally created for parents, but as a counselor, I’ve also found it helpful. This book proves TONS of ideas for how to support middle school students through these transitional years, as well as tips and conversation starters for each important skill. I could see this book being a great book discussion for parents, or even part of a Coffee with the Counselor meeting.
4. Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together In the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD. I just recently started this book, but I already find it very compelling. It starts by talking about what racism is, and then flows into identity and how racial identity can impact our lives. It’s making me consider things in a whole new light. I’ll let you know what I think of it!

Books for Fun

1. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. I cannot say enough about this book! The writing is so poetic, and the story is intriguing. If you like fantasy, this is a must-read.
2. The Great Alone by Kristen Hannah. Imagine living in a remote town of Alaska, just trying to survive while hiding a family secret. There’s a little mystery, a little romance, and a whole lot of surprises in this novel. It really emphasizes the bonds of family, both the one you are born into and the one you create with friends.
3. Defending Jacob by William Landay. This book is a mystery / thriller / drama all wrapped into one. I can’t say too much without giving something away, but suffice it to say that I thought I knew the outcome of the book … and I was wrong. Multiple times. The twists in this book are phenomenal. (Also, if you like the book, then you can watch the mini-series that is out, starring Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery.)
4. Lethal White by Robert Galbraith. This is the 4^th book in the Cormoran Strike series, written by Galbraith (who is actually JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter). It’s a murder mystery with a detective as keen as Sherlock Holmes, and a partner who shows just how smart, savvy and tenacious women can be. If interested, you would need to start with the first novel to get to know all the characters (The Cuckoo’s Calling).

Happy reading!

Getting to Know Our Students: Meet Andrew Hirsh

We’re excited to continue our series getting to know our students. You can get to know more of our students and our faculty/ staff on previous posts. Read on to meet Andrew, one of our undergraduate students!

My name is Andrew Hirsh, and I am entering my senior year at Marquette. I am studying secondary education and broad field science with a minor in chemistry. I am from Buffalo Grove, IL.

As a student, I had the unique opportunity to get hired by Milwaukee Tennis and Education Foundation (MTEF) to be an Academic Instructor. I was able to rewrite the academic lesson plans across disciplines that are a component of their summer tennis camps. I then got to implement facilitating these lessons to students ranging in age from 6-18. It was amazing to work in a non-traditional environment with such a range of students in regards to their previous knowledge and backgrounds. This year, I am looking forward to student teaching this fall in a chemistry classroom at Central High School in West Allis.

My decision to come to Marquette boiled down to my love of the campus and the strength of the College of Education. It is powerfully unique that we are required to get two majors, gain wide exposure to various educational experiences, and begin our field work right away our first semester. These were highly important to my college decision.

Outside of the classroom, I am involved in a lot on campus. I am a percussionist in the MU Band, have been an RA the past two years (and will be in a manager position this fall) in a residence hall, am a Tour Guide for the University, play volleyball as frequently as I can, and enjoy working with prospective students and curriculum planning for the Honors Program.

I think that working in education is such a crucial role for people to fill in society. My opinion is that educators are perhaps the most important profession as they lay the groundwork for any career path that people may take later on in life. Everything any person learns come from a teacher, be it in school or in general, and without them no one would be able to achieve anything in any field of work/study.

Want to learn more about our undergraduate or graduate programs in the College of Education? Visit us online today!

Getting to Know Our Students: Meet Rory Ravenscraft

We’re excited to continue our series getting to know our students. You can get to know more of our students and our faculty/ staff on previous posts. Read on to meet Rory, one of our undergraduates!

I grew up in a small town known as Lexington, Kentucky. This would be my third year living in Milwaukee and my third year living in Chicago since we moved from Lexington. I have a very closeknit family! We spend time together by watching classic movies such as Road to Bali starring Bing Crosby and Bob Hope or going for an adventure outdoors. Our favorite place to vacation is Montana where we stay at hot springs and love to go white water rafting down the Yellowstone river, venture to the Livingston rodeo or horseback ride through the mountains.

I am a teaching assistant (TA) for Marquette Universities Physics courses ARSC 1020, ARSC 1021 and PHYS 1009. I love getting to know the students and being able to both teach and support them throughout the semester both inside and outside the classroom. I have had the opportunity to grade papers, exams and worksheets while also having the opportunity to lead a lab section. My main challenge that I have faced as a TA is not being able to give everybody a 100%.

My favorite educational experience was my field placement my sophomore year at Milwaukee Academy of Science which allowed me to accompany my class on a field trip to a nature preserve where I helped several students catch bugs. This was a lot of fun because it reminded me of my childhood in Kentucky when I would do this and I got to face my fear of bees and wasps by catching over 20 of them for their class project.

I am very excited for this upcoming year because I plan to be extremely involved on campus. I am helping co-lead Recruitment and Candidate Day Away for my sorority Alpha Omega Epsilon. I also plan to be the Vice President of the Physics club and continue teaching second grade at the Sunday School of Gesu Parish.

I was drawn to Marquette for several reasons one of which was the feeling of home I felt on campus. My parents and grandfather all went to Marquette, so I felt at home knowing that they had taken some of the same courses and lived in the same residences or walked the same halls as I do today. I felt a strong connection to the College of Education because they offer amazing opportunities and a wonderful support system that other schools cannot even comprehend. I loved that I would start working in schools my freshman year and slowly build up to student teaching through my service learning experiences and field placements. I also loved how small the community within the College of Education is because I felt I could really connect with the faculty, staff and students which has been one of the best parts about choosing Marquette.

I am very outdoorsy and have had horseback riding lessons for nine years, so whenever I have the opportunity to be around horses or ride one I always take the chance. My family used to be a part of the horse racing industry and growing up in Kentucky I was always able to spend time at horse farms so being around horses or riding them makes me feel both free and at home. I am a huge coffee lover and I like to believe I am a fairly talented photographer. I love to sing in the car on my way to Starbucks and I am an avid photographer too! I love practicing photography because I love to capture the beauty in the world and share that beauty with others. A couple of tips: bring your horse some peppermints or carrots so you can grow a closer bond! Make a budget for Starbucks so you don’t blow all your money away (like me) and take pictures of the moments that make you happy so you can keep them forever.

My grandparents and my parents inspire me everyday. My mom is literally a superhero and my father is my rock in my life. I look to them for guidance and support and they give me both in ten fold. My grandparents have always taught me to smile, stay positive and do my best. I take this inspiration with me when I teach and I try to inspire my students to do the same. My parents and my grandparents mean the world to me and they inspire me every day to be myself and be the best that I can be.

Never forget to think positively and be yourself!

Want to learn more about our undergraduate or graduate programs in the College of Education? Visit us online today!