Editor’s Note: As Commencement approaches, we are featuring some of our Neag School Class of 2025 graduating students over the coming days.
Major: BS, Elementary Education
Hometown: New Milford, Connecticut
Q: Why did you choose UConn?
A: I chose UConn because I knew that it would feel like home. Entering college was a difficult transition for me — having never moved in my life, I was very nervous to spend five years somewhere else. However, coming from a “cow town” of my own, the moment I saw campus for the first time, I knew that Mansfield would feel just like my own small hometown. Knowing that the Neag School is rated so highly in our nation’s public teacher education programs, too, sealed the deal for me as I knew I would come out well-prepared for the career I’d always known I’d be going into.
Q: What’s your major or field of study, and what drew you to it?
A: I am an elementary education major, and I have wanted to be a teacher since I was a child myself because of my grandfather. Having been a professor and a child of immigrants, he has always valued education and made it his duty to be a lifelong learner. In my childhood, he helped me develop a natural love for this; whether we were discussing ancient Egypt, the German language, or filtration systems, he embraced each subject with open arms, and when he didn’t know an answer, we would read up on it together. As I became older, he began to ask me to teach him things, too. This reciprocal relationship and internal motivation to learn that he fostered in me has greatly influenced my perspective of myself as a learner, my decision to be a teacher, and my teaching philosophy itself. It is my goal to promote this same fondness for education in my students that he did for me.
Q: Did you have a favorite professor or class?
A: It’s hard to pick just one professor I most enjoyed, so I’ll go with two:
Dr. Doug Kaufman in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. He, just like my grandfather, helps students to see the power in themselves and guides our instruction in a way that exemplifies the kind of teacher I want to be — one who offers interest-based activities, validates students in their progress, and builds a respectful and culturally responsive community where everyone is given an equitable chance at education. He played a large role in my undergraduate career, not only as my professor but as my thesis advisor. I am forever grateful for his dedicated assistance in that process.
Dr. Regina Barreca in the English Department. I took three of her classes throughout my time at UConn, but I would take her courses forever if I could. Whether it was deep discussions of books I’d never dreamed of reading but found myself thoroughly enjoying or developing her students as creative writers, she never failed to make each late-night class fly by with humor, stories, and passion. She cares about each of her students deeply and builds a community where no one is afraid to share their perspective on literature or on life itself. Her belief in me and dutiful instruction led to a short essay of mine being published in a journal — something I’d never thought would happen. Not to mention, her books are outstanding and engaging reads.
Q: What activities were you involved in as a student?
A: Throughout my time in college, my involvement fluctuated from member to leader of many different clubs, organizations, and positions. During my freshman year, I maintained my love of music by being a member of the piccolo section of the UConn Marching Band and playing flute in the concert band; I also participated in community activities and organizations such as the UConn Future Educators Club, the UConn chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta (a national honor society), Create and Communicate, the Lion’s Club, and America Reads. The following year, I continued to participate in the concert band, Alpha Lambda Delta, and UConn Future Educators, became vice president of creativity and communications, and worked for the Student-Athlete Success Program.
My junior year consisted of being the public relations chair for UConn Future Educators, taking on a resident assistant role on campus, and continuing to help the community through activities Alpha Lambda Delta held. In my senior year, I continued my position as a resident assistant on campus, was elected president of UConn Future Educators, and spent a fourth year as a member of Alpha Lambda Delta. Lastly, throughout all four years, I was a part of the Honors Program, wherein I conducted educational research. With so many opportunities for involvement available at UConn, I’m thankful that I had the chance to try new things, continue with hobbies I loved being a part of, and develop my leadership skills.
Q: What’s one thing that surprised you about UConn?
A: Something that surprised me about UConn was the variety of classes available. I greatly appreciated the diversity of courses offered, as I was able to take classes I’d always been interested in but had never explored before. Specifically, some of these things were human development, family sciences, and creative writing courses. I also never would have expected the niche topics covered, so when looking through the catalog when course selection time came around each semester, I was always able to find something new and different.
Q: What are your plans after graduation/receiving your degree?
A: Next year, I will be getting my master’s degree in curriculum and instruction through the Neag School. Following that time, I hope to return to the western part of Connecticut, near where I grew up, to teach in a public school. I hope to remain involved in the Connecticut Education Association when I become an active teacher by attending professional development sessions and staying in touch with the political aspects of the education profession.
Q: How has UConn prepared you for the next chapter in life?
A: Being a student at UConn was probably one of the best choices I’ve ever made. The experiences I’ve gotten through being a Neag School student have prepared me to be the best teacher I can be and, with great professors to model from, I feel ready to enter my career with the professional and personal skills necessary to do so. Also, the ability to harness leadership skills through different positions I’ve held in my time here has helped me recognize my voice as something powerful, influential, and worth sharing; this is something that will not only help me as a teacher but also a person in a world where there are so many things to speak up for.
The experiences I’ve gotten through being a Neag School student have prepared me to be the best teacher I can be. — Hannah Spinner
Q: Any advice for incoming students?
A: My biggest advice for incoming students is to try new things. These four years are when you have the freedom to do it. For many people, this is the last chance you will get to take a course that interests you, join a club based on your interests, or hold a job that you’ve never considered before. This helped me build a community of people in a place that feels so big and challenges my personal sense of self.
Four years ago, I never would have imagined that I would have done all of the different things I did, but because I took those leaps of faith, I have evolved into someone I never expected myself to be in the most positive ways possible.
Q: What’s one thing everyone should do during their time at UConn?
A: One thing everyone should do during their time at UConn is watch the sunset with friends on Horsebarn Hill. Whether it’s often or once a semester, having the chance to see the entirety of campus from a beautiful perspective with your chosen people is a healing experience. Being on a big campus can make you feel small, like a fish in an ocean, but from on top of the hill, you feel like you’re right where you need to be with the people who make it feel like home.
Q: What will always make you think of UConn?
A: A vanilla iced chai latte will always make me think of UConn. The first one I ever had was from Bookworms, and it quickly became my new drink of choice and, most likely, started my caffeine addiction. No other version I have tried at Starbucks, Dunkin’, or a local coffee shop has done it justice. Whenever I get one in the future, I’ll always be thinking of the UConn cafes.
