Following is a Q&A with one of the 763 students who received a diploma Dec. 15 at UW-Stout
Hometown: St. Kitts and Nevis
Major: Career, technical education and training (online)
Awards, honors: Cum Laude
Why did you choose UW-Stout? I was looking for a university where I could further my education in career and technical education because I have been working at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College in the Technical Division for over 20 years and I would like to contribute to the upgrading of our programs to competency-based programs. After reading what the CTET program entailed, I knew this was the right place.
What are the biggest obstacles you faced in earning your degree? It was (as an online student) getting the notes. This may sound simple, but there was the time when some courses used hard copy books and not e-text. After having been able to have the notes be copied and emailed to me, one instructor said that doing so would breach copyright laws, so already starting the course late now I had to wait for a textbook. Without these books, you would not be successful.
What stands out among your college experiences? The willingness of some instructors to really do whatever it takes to help students learn, as according to Steven Brookfield. Living in the Caribbean I don’t have a lot of the resources that are readily available in the United States, and many of my instructors presented alternatives and were patient with the inherent delays. My adviser, Matt Simoneau, helped to make this experience more than just gaining knowledge; he went above and beyond to remove any obstacles that could have derailed my progress. Had it not been this time of the year (snow), I would have traveled to Wisconsin so that my family could meet him in person. I don’t think that it is just for me or because it is his job that he does what he does. I believe that he genuinely cares and wants others to be successful in life.
What’s next? Be a proud Wisconsin alumni and use the knowledge, skills and experience to promote the university. Become actively involved in the college program development of programs, courses and lecturers. Apply Steven Brookfield’s five important pillars of a successful teacher.
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