The CHIEF December 2016

Getting to Know:

What was your favorite moment from 1st semester?

Ms. Cook

    Anyone who is currently taking one of Mr. Christie’s social studies classes is sure to know his student teacher, Ms. Cook. In this article, Ms. Cook tells us a little about herself and shares her professional aspirations.   By Taylor Ritter

Camryn Feddern

TR: Give us some background on yourself.

"Playing in the Powder Puff game and coming so close to beating the seniors."

MC: Most of my students already know that I am from St. Louis, other than that, I moved to central IL about 3 and a half years ago when I transferred to ISU from St. Louis University. I used to be a debate coach at UHigh. I have 4 tattoos and I am a huge Denver Broncos fan.

TR: How has your experience been here at PTHS?

MC: Student teaching is a really tough experience no matter what school you’re at, but the students and the staff here at PTHS have really helped to make the experience easier. Mr. Christie has been great about letting me take over his classroom, the whole department has really supported me and the students here are fantastic (especially my students). I’ve told many of my students this but a few weeks ago, I worked with another student teacher who is at a different high school and there is no way you could ever compare the students there to the students here at PTHS. My students have made this experience so positive for me. MC: Most teachers will tell you that they always knew they wanted to be a teacher, but I actually started college as a political science major and I was a prelaw student, meaning I had the intent to go to law school and become a lawyer. After my first semester of college I realized that the career wasn’t for me, so I sat down and wrote two lists. I wrote one list of the things that I was good at and one list of the things I liked. I had determined that I wanted to teach and decided to give history a shot because it was always my favorite subject in school. Deciding to switch my major to history and education was the best decision I ever made and looking back there were a lot of indications growing up that this is what I should be doing (I wanted to be Sacagawea for Halloween three times). MC: One thing that I learned is that you shouldn’t have a lot of expectations going in to college. A lot of people tell you that college will be the best years of your life and you will love it, or that college is too expensive and too stressful. Everyone’s college experience is different so if you go in expecting it to be a certain way then you will end up being disappointed if it doesn’t work out the way you thought it would and that can be really discouraging. College can be really fun, but it is also a lot of work, and it can be scary at times too. So it is best to just go in with an open mind and make the most of whatever experience you are faced with. TR: What got you interested in a career in teaching? TR: What advice would you give to seniors looking to go to college?

Madison Mennenga

"The thrill of playing in the championship game in our freshman volleyball tournament and taking home 2nd place!"

Patrick Bromley

"Working with Mr. Brown and Mad Brass on the Madrigal tour, specifically the tour of schools."