Riding the Right Wave: Transfer Education Student Finds Her Fit

Originally from St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, the secondary English education and English dual major moved to Pittsburgh shortly after graduating high school. She enrolled at a university in Hawaii but started to reconsider her decision as she wrapped up her first year.  

A season of change

“I don't know if long-term educationally and professionally it was for me and my goals,” said Nina. “I also missed Pittsburgh; I really love living in this city.”
 
As Nina considered a new program in the Pittsburgh area, academic rigor and the ability to explore all her interests remained important. She was excited to entrust Duquesne with her goals, explore the breadth and depth of her ambitions, and move back to an area where she could experience all four seasons. 

“I felt like Duquesne had the strongest education programs,” she said. “Being within the city, access to the dual-degree program and being able to join the Honors College made me very grateful that I transferred.”
 
Transferring was a smooth process, due in part to having a year of college under her belt. Nina dove into student involvement right away as she walked onto the rowing team and met two of her best friends.

Creating a future everyone can share

In the classroom, Nina immediately felt like she belonged as she pursued her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher.
 
“I've known I wanted to be a teacher since I was in first grade because I always loved school and loved learning, particularly English,” said Nina. “I love to read and completely believe that reading shapes you as a person and makes you a better, more empathetic and critically thinking person.” 
 
Nina worked with children throughout her life in volunteer capacities and arrived to the Bluff armed with hands-on experience that’s benefited her learning process. She remained open to the lives and journeys of others as she’s volunteered at summer camps, worked with children of refugees and tutored.  
 
“I feel confident I should be part of raising up the next generation and helping them either succeed on the path they're on or help them find a new path. It’s incredibly fulfilling to me,” said Nina. “Equity and justice begin in the classroom, and those are foundational to my teaching philosophy.”

A professional path with purpose

Nina cares about each student and focuses on their individual success and future. She has a good sense of what she wants to achieve and the impact she wants to make on the world.
 
“Larger societal changes happen when we educate young people, so I'm very passionate about education, particularly in literature and humanities,” she said. “They’ve always been super close to my heart and who I am as a person.”
 
After completing multiple field observations, Nina is thrilled to begin her student teaching journey at The Campus Laboratory School teaching sixth through eighth grade ELA. 
 
Her mentor teacher has given her flexibility and autonomy to manage the classroom and plan lessons that encourage participation and insightful conversations. 
 
“I find myself constantly referring back to all of my courses,” said Nina. “I'm a firm believer—and I tell my students this—that you get out of your education what you put into it.”
 
Nina has a few exciting milestones to hit in her last semester as she realizes her boldest goals. She’s always been an avid reader, but thanks to her classwork and the mentorship of faculty, she developed a love for writing as well. 
 
One of her essays will be published in The Review—it won the “Best Critical Essay” award—and she’ll have an opportunity to present at Sigma Tau Delta International English Honors Society’s annual convention in New Orleans. There, she’ll read an excerpt from her essay and participate in a roundtable discussion. 

Prepared for anything

As she embarks on next steps, Nina acknowledges that she’ll miss her role as a full-time student. 
 
“There’s just a privilege that this is all I have to do,” she said. “I get to read and talk about books as my job as a student.”
 
Nina is open-minded about her future. In the short-term, she sees herself teaching in a secondary English classroom. While she’d love to teach in Pittsburgh, she also could envision herself living oceanside again. 
 
“I really love to surf,” she smiled. “I can see myself trying out different places, but I’ll always be teaching."