Editor’s Note: As Commencement approaches, we are featuring some of our Neag School Class of 2023 graduating students over the coming days.
Major: MA in Educational Psychology
Hometown: Wethersfield, Connecticut
Why did you choose UConn?
I have been a Husky ever since I was a child! My father would bring my sister and I to basketball games at Gampel, tailgates and football at Rentschler Field, hockey games at the XL Center, and, most importantly, the Dairy Bar! I wanted to attend UConn, not only for the sports and ice cream, but also to pursue my dream of becoming a teacher! Seeing as how the Neag School of Education has consecutively ranked within the top 25 public graduate schools of education in America year after year, I knew I wanted to be a part of their program!
What’s your major and why did you choose it?
I am pursuing my master’s degree in special education. My passion for working with individuals with disabilities began in the first grade when I met an amazing boy named Kyle. Kyle was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as an infant, yet was one of the strongest people I knew. I loved making him laugh and seeing him defy the odds stacked against him; he inspired me to be someone who can make a difference in as many lives as I can and that has never wavered. The meaningful relationships I’ve been so grateful to gain with friends, coworkers, students, and families have made a huge impact on my life and my perspective of the world. I have always been told that “it takes a special and patient person to do this type of work,” but I’ve never known that to be true. I’m not the one who should be commemorated for the hard work being done in the classroom and the community, it is the children and adults who demonstrate insurmountable strength and drive to overcome the relentless obstacles and perceptions against them and prove others wrong on a daily basis. I am only a small piece of their successes. It is an indescribable feeling to be a part of something larger than myself, something that not all people get the chance to experience and I will continue to share and celebrate these amazing individuals and their stories and help bring change to the way the world perceives the disability community.
What are your plans after graduation?
Following graduation, I plan to begin working as a special education teacher here in Connecticut with students who have moderate to severe disabilities this coming fall.
What activities were you involved with as a student?
As an undergrad, some activities I was a part of were the South Campus Residence Hall Association, the Future Educators club, intramural soccer and basketball, working at the Rec Center, and HuskyTHON! I am also currently working as a graduate assistant with some of the greatest professors in the Neag School of Education!
“Looking back on my years at UConn, I think about the amazing lifelong friends I’ve made, the mentors I’ve been so lucky to work with, and the countless experiences and memories I have here.” — Natalie Ciarcia
How has UConn prepared you for the next chapter in life?
Looking back on my years at UConn, I think about the amazing lifelong friends I’ve made, the mentors I’ve been so lucky to work with, and the countless experiences and memories I have here. UConn has prepared me to take on the constantly changing society we live in today, how to be an advocate for myself and others, and to continue seeking out new opportunities and adventures wherever I go!
What’s one thing that surprised you about UConn?
One thing that surprised me about UConn is how extreme the weather gets in Storrs, especially the wind!
Any advice for incoming first-year students?
You are absolutely not expected to come to college and be prepared for the rest of your life. College is about exploring who you are and taking as many risks as you can. We often think that we have to have our lives figured out as soon as we graduate from college, but we really don’t! We are going to face many obstacles in life, but everything happens for a reason – embrace every moment, especially the small ones, because we never know what tomorrow is going to bring!
What’s one thing every student should do during their time at UConn?
The one thing that EVERY student should do during their time at UConn is to join HuskyTHON! It is an indescribable, life-changing feeling to be a part of a college community that comes together to raise over $1 million, year after year, for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and the Children’s Miracle Foundation, who provide lifesaving medical care to hundreds of children on a daily basis. I am so grateful to be in a profession that allows me the opportunity to work with many children and families who have received care at CCMC, and being able to participate in HuskyTHON is the least we can do to give back!
Who was your favorite professor and why?
There are so many amazing professors in the Neag School of Education, but two professors in particular have had an indescribable impact on myself, my education, and my future. Dr. Susannah Everett and Dr. Tracy Sinclair have been my greatest mentors since my junior year; they have supported me not only in my best moments, but my most challenging, as well. There were many moments where I thought I was not going to be able to succeed, yet they have always seen the best in me, giving me unwavering support and never giving up on me. Words cannot express how grateful I am to have had Susannah and Tracy in my life over these past few years, I would not at all be the person and educator I have become today without their support and guidance, I owe this and all of my accomplishments to them!
What’s one thing that will always make you think of UConn?
Being an alumna in the Basketball Capital of the World!
