Welcome to the ninth “spotlight” blog post featuring one of the student leaders of SEA & KDP at Governors State University!

   This week, our spotlight leader is:   
KAITLYN ZALKOWSKI
Newest SEA Leader

Kaitlyn Zalkowski is a 21 year old student in the Elementary Education program with a specialization in Math at Governors State University. She aspires to teach 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grade when she graduates with her bachelors degree. 

Some of her fondest memories at GSU were when she became a leader of SEA and bonded with the other leaders at the IEA 2019 student conference. Kaitlyn would consider making the Dean’s list every semester that she’s been in college to be her biggest accomplishment.

In her free time, Kaitlyn loves to make crafts, like paintings and drawings, and going to concerts, which she does several times a year. In addition, she truly enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and camping. She would highly recommend that people horseback ride either in the Rocky or Smoky Mountains National Park, both of which she has experienced already. Kaitlyn has trouble describing in words how beautiful the scenery and overall experience was for her.

While at home, Kaitlyn enjoys watching several of her favorite TV-shows including One Tree Hill, F.R.I.E.N.D.S, and This Is Us. She has way too many favorite movies and struggles to select just one. Some of her favorite foods are pizza, chicken, and tacos. She loves the smell of food and her house. Kaitlyn’s mom uses the best candles and matches the scents to the season! 

If Kaitlyn had to choose something she couldn’t live without, it would have to be her family and boyfriend. They motivate and support her in anything she decides to pursue. She can’t imagine how her life would have turned out without them. The person that Kaitlyn looks up to the most is her mother who she considers to be the strongest person she knows. Kaitlyn’s mom always motivates her to be a better person and encourages her to always do the right thing. 

Currently, Kaitlyn is a front desk worker at Planet Fitness. If she was ever given the chance to pursue an office job, Kaitlyn would be bored out of her mind just sitting around. She’d be too antsy! A movie title that best describes Kaitlyn’s life would be Say Anything because she believes that people should feel free to say what’s on their mind and express their emotions. Kaitlyn tries to live by one of her favorite quotes, “She was unstoppable not because she did not have failures or doubts, but because she continues on despite them” – Beau Taplin.

In the next few months, Kaitlyn is looking forward to going to Florida. She’ll be visiting Disney World for the first time and reconnecting with her sister who she hasn’t seen for months. While in Florida, Kaitlyn is also excited to try fishing from an actual boat. She’s fished only offshore before. In the next 10 years, Kaitlyn is looking forward to graduating, becoming a teacher, moving in with her boyfriend, and getting married. Kaitlyn hopes that people will remember her as a kind and loyal person and that she makes a difference in peoples’ lives.

If you have any questions to ask Kaitlyn or would simply like to share your thoughts, please use the comment section below. Thank you!

Information Provided by Kaitlyn Zalkowski
Spotlight Post Written by Sireen Hamarshah

Welcome to the eighth “spotlight” blog post featuring one of the student leaders of SEA at Governors State University!

   This week, our spotlight leader is:   
KIA TAYLOR
SEA Activities & Membership

Kia Taylor is a 22 year old student in the Early Childhood Education program with an endorsement in ELL at Governors State University. She aspires to teach Kindergarten, 1st, or 2nd grade when she graduates with her bachelors degree. 

Her fondest memory at GSU is meeting new friends and getting closer to them every semester. Certainly, she’s made some lifelong friends throughout her time at college. In addition, she really enjoys her leadership experience and involvement in Student Education Association (SEA). Kia would consider her graduating and earning her first college degree in December 2019 to be her biggest accomplishment!

In her free time, Kia loves doing makeup/beauty and reading. In addition, she’s devoted to fitness and tries her hardest to live a healthy lifestyle. She would highly recommend that people try eating chocolate covered crickets. She assures that they are low in calories and very crunchy! 

While at home, Kia enjoys watching post-apocalyptic/Sci-Fi TV-shows. Some of her favorite TV-shows include The Walking Dead, Rick and Morty, and Law and Order: SUV. Her favorite movies would have to be Wanted, Spirited Away, and anything by Marvel. She enjoys eating sushi and any breakfast food. She loves the smell of eucalyptus and mint.

If Kia had to choose something she couldn’t live without, it would have to be her planner. It’s the one and only tool that helps keep her life organized. A movie title that best describes Kia’s life would be Pursuit of Happiness. She tries to live by one of her favorite quotes, “When they go low, we go high.” – Michelle Obama. 

Currently, Kia is working as a substitute teacher for a Charter School Network in the South/West side of Chicago. If she was ever given the chance to pursue any job as a politician, Kia probably wouldn’t last very long because she’s really bad at lying and pretending that she likes people when she doesn’t. She knows that she would only speak the truth which would make a lot of people upset with her! 

The person that Kia looks up to the most is her mother. In fact, she would consider her mom to be her role model because she’s the strongest person Kia knows. She taught Kia how to be independent and nurturing, both of which are invaluable skills. Sometime in the future, she would love to go camping at a national park with hot springs. She’s never been to a big national park and it’s been on her travel list for some time.

In the next few months, Kia is looking forward to going to China for a week and a half in May on a study abroad trip. In the next 10 years, Kia is looking forward to starting her career, getting her masters degree and perhaps beginning a PhD, getting married, starting a family, and adopting more pets. She wants to be remembered for her kindness and passion for education. In addition, she wants to be known as the educator who made a difference and evoked change in her community and country. 

If you have any questions to ask Kia or would simply like to share your thoughts, please use the comment section below. Thank you!

Information Provided by Kia Taylor
Spotlight Post Written by Sireen Hamarshah

Welcome to the seventh “spotlight” blog post featuring one of the student leaders of SEA & KDP at Governors State University!

   This week, our spotlight leader is:   
KEELIN CROTTY
SEA PR & Activities and KDP Activities

Keelin Crotty is a 21 year old student in the Elementary Education program with a middle school endorsement in Math at Governors State University. She aspires to teach 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade when she graduates with her bachelors degree. 

Her fondest memory at GSU is joining Student Education Association (SEA), meeting other members, and officially joining the leadership team. Keelin would consider buying her new car at the age of 20 and getting a 4.0 GPA while taking 24 credit hours to be her biggest accomplishment thus far.

In her free time, Keelin loves to make crafts, scrapbook, workout, run, and spend time outside in the sun. She enjoys several outdoor activities including swimming, hiking, and tanning. She would highly recommend that people hike in the Grand Canyon at least once in their lifetime. She believes it to be the most beautiful sight she’s ever seen! In the near future, Keelin desperately wants to go sky diving, preferably sometime before her 22nd birthday!

While at home, Keelin enjoys watching her favorite TV-show It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Her favorite movie would have to be Horrible Bosses. Some of her favorite foods are double baked potatoes, steak, and steamed broccoli. She loves the smell of a new box of crayons and tea tree oil.

If Keelin had to choose something she couldn’t live without, it would have to be her dog and family. In fact, the person she looks up to the most in her life is her mom. Her mother has done so much for her and her brothers. Keelin admires how absolutely positive and kind her mother is. A movie title that best describes Keelin’s life would be Trolls because she strives to be as happy and positive as Poppy, the troll. She tries to live by one of her favorite quotes, “She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future” – Proverbs 31:25-28.

Currently, Keelin is working as a nanny on days that she’s not attending classes at Governors State University. If she was ever given the chance to pursue a job in an office answering phone calls all day, Keelin probably wouldn’t last very long. She hates sitting still! She would rather have a job that involves movement and in-person communication.  

In the next few months, Keelin is looking forward to going on several of her planned trips to visit friends and work with the students at her lab II clinical experience site. In the next 10 years, Keelin is looking forward to graduating, getting married, traveling, and having kids. She hopes she’ll be remembered for being positive, making people laugh, and for being a happy and friendly person. 

If you have any questions to ask Keelin or would simply like to share your thoughts, please use the comment section below. Thank you!

Information Provided by Keelin Crotty
Spotlight Post Written by Sireen Hamarshah