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

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

   This week, our spotlight leader is:   
AIMEE YORK
SEA Media & Public Relations and KDP Social Media & Activities

Aimee York is a 29 year old student in the Early Childhood Education program with an endorsement in ESL at Governors State University. She aspires to teach first grade students when she graduates with her bachelors degree. 

Some of her fondest memories at GSU is when she joined the SEA team and met one of her closest friend. Aimee completed a different degree back in 2014 and considers her decision to return to school, to pursue a degree in a field she’s very passionate about, to be one of her biggest accomplishments. 

In her free time, Aimee loves to read, hang out with her friends and family, travel, and drink wine. She would recommend that people try to do things that are outside of their comfort zones like sky diving or rock climbing. Sometime in the future, Aimee would love to go on a spontaneous road trip because she loves to embark on new adventures. 

While at home, Aimee enjoys watching Vampire Diaries and Big Bang Theory. Her favorite move series would have to be Harry Potter, Divergent, and Twilight. She really enjoys eating sushi and any Mexican or Chinese dish. Some of her favorite scents include fresh cut grass, rain, and lavender.

If Aimee had to choose something she couldn’t live without, it would have to be her husband and family. She truly believes that she would be lost without them. They are her support system, provide her with endless encouragement, and get her through tough times. A movie title that best describes Aimee’s life would be Crazy, Stupid, Love. The crazy is because her life has been crazy with work, family, and school. The stupid is because she loves being silly. The love is because she married her best friend this past August. She lives by one of her favorite quotes, “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light” – J.K. Rowling. 

When she’s not attending class, Aimee’s probably working at her job as an infant teacher at a daycare center. She’s held this position for the last 11 years. If she was ever given the chance to pursue a job as a bartender, Aimee believes she wouldn’t last very long. She doesn’t think she’ll be able to serve drinks very fast or listen to people fighting, perhaps sometimes needing to defuse them. She’s a good listener when people need to talk. But, when it comes to bar brawls and violence, she runs in the other direction.  

The person that Aimee looks up to the most is her mother who was married when she was 18 and started in child care. She is currently the director and owner of a child care center Aimee works at and she has children from the past who still remember who she is and come to visit her. She enjoys what she does and loves each and every child as though they were her own. Her mother’s career inspired Aimee’s passion for working with children as well. 

In the next few months, Aimee is looking forward to going to China to study abroad in May. She hopes this will be an amazing experience that she would have never had on her own. In the next 10 years, Aimee is looking forward to having a career in teaching, having kids, building a house, getting an English bulldog, and making an impact on children’s lives. She aspires to be the teacher that is visited by her former students when they’re older and told that she made a difference in their life.

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

Information Provided by Aimee York
Spotlight Post Written by Sireen Hamarshah

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

   This week, our spotlight leader is:   
HAILEY CZERWINSKI
SEA Membership & Activities and KDP Treasurer

Hailey Czerwinski is a 21 year old student in the Early Childhood Education program with endorsements in Special Education and ESL at Governors State University. She aspires to teach kindergarten students when she graduates with her bachelors degree. 

One of her fondest memories at GSU is when she met Sandy the therapy dog in the library. At the time, Hailey was recovering from the loss of her own dog and was stressed with school and work. Also, she never knew why she kept getting so many emails about meeting the therapy dog. When she finally had the pleasure of making it’s acquaintance, Hailey claims that it was an amazing experience. She was given the opportunity to play with Sandy which really helped her relax and relieve some of her stress for the time being.

In her free time, Hailey simply loves to make things. She’s skilled at crocheting and painting. In addition, she enjoys anything involving arts and crafts because it helps her relax. On a perfect day, you may find Hailey curled up on her couch reading an adventurous story, solving a puzzle, or participating in an escape room. She loves any activity that challenges her mind! 

In the past, Hailey has had the opportunity to hold exotic animals, which she recommends everyone to try at least once. She has held six large Macaw Parrots (at one time), an albino python, and a spider monkey. She believes each and every one to be once in a lifetime experience. Due to her willingness to hold these animals, Hailey now has interesting stories to tell. For instance, as she was holding the Macaw Parrots, one of them decided to hold her braid in its beak. She has a picture of this occurrence and loves to share it with others. One day, she would love to go skydiving. Her boyfriend’s sister went a few years ago and Hailey was too scared to go. However, now, she’s determined to try it because of her desire to be adventurous. 

While at home, Hailey often watches the Harry Potter series whenever it’s playing on TV. She owns every DVD and book and claims that she can never get sick of them. She may also watch her favorite TV-show, The Big Bang Theory, while eating some sort of Italian dish involving pasta. Hailey can eat pasta for any meal of the day. The rooms in her house would either smell like citrus or a light base bleach cleaner, both of which she loves the scent of. 

Ever since she was little, Hailey had always been shy which prevented her from experiencing new things and being social. Most of the time, she would keep to herself and try not to draw too much attention. However, now, she is proud to say that she has overcome her shyness and it’s mainly due to her experiences at GSU. She lives by one of her favorite quotes, “I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions” – Stephen Covey. She has made the decision not to let her shyness stop her from doing anything.

When she’s not attending class, Hailey’s probably working at her job as a teacher at a daycare. She runs the before and after school program where she helps 5-11 year old students with their homework and continue any reading or writing programs that they are involved in at school. This job opportunity certainly coincides with her career choice. While being a teacher suits her personality and skills, being a waitress surely doesn’t. If she was ever given the chance to pursue this job choice, Hailey believes she would be terrible at it because she’s very clumsy and she would end up dropping food all over her customers. Certainly, she wouldn’t last long as a waitress. Regardless, the movie title that would best describe her life is “Young Adult” because she’s slowly but surely becoming a young adult and taking on more and more responsibilities of an adult as she continues her education and contributes to the working world. 

If Hailey had to choose one thing she couldn’t live without, it would be her family and boyfriend’s family. On a daily basis, they motivate and push her to do better. Being around them makes her incredibly happy. Without a doubt, they encourage her to do things beyond what she ever thought she could or would ever do. In fact, she looks forward to spending time with both families over the holidays. Hailey believes this time of the year to be the one time where conflicts stop, everyone gathers, and is just happy to get together. 

The person that Hailey looks up to the most is her mother. Unfortunately, Hailey’s mother didn’t have a good childhood and didn’t complete high school. She was not encouraged to continue or finish her schooling, which she had a hard time performing well at. However, Hailey’s mother knew she had to get her GED and continue her education so she fought for years to finish school even though she struggled constantly. Finally, her mother obtained her GED. received her CNA license, and is currently working on her Phlebotomy licence. Hailey very much looks up to her mother because of her hard work, perseverance, and dedication. She admires the fact that her mother never let anyone tell her that she couldn’t do something.

In the next 10 years, Hailey is looking forward to starting her career as an early childhood teacher. In addition, she aspires to continue her education by getting a degree in social work. She wants to be able to help children both at an educational level and on levels where others cannot. Family matters and her current experiences in the ECE program have really influenced her to go forward with her education and to try her best to help children even more. 

Down the road, Hailey wants to be remembered for her organizational skills. It wasn’t until she attended high school that she became very organized with her school work and in her personal life. One of her teachers helped her become organized and gave her so many useful tools that she still uses to this day. She claims that organization is something that so many people struggle with and it’s an area that she would love to be able to help others with.

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

Information Provided by Hailey Czerwinski
Spotlight Post Written by Sireen Hamarshah