Chloe Richie - NMU Blog

I decided to come to NMU because I was looking for an adventure. I love Marquette and everything it has to offer. Marquette has activities ranging all the way from sunrise hikes up Sugarloaf to doing homework in a local coffee shop. I love that I can immerse myself in the beauty of the U.P. while I go to school. Northern also has an amazing education program. I loved how much the professors here made learning personal. At Northern, I don't feel like just a number. My professors truly care about me and my success.

I coached gymnastics for two years during high school, and the relationships I was able to form with the kids I had the opportunity to coach was so unbelievably life giving and rewarding. I loved watching them reach their goals. After that experience, I knew I wanted to go into education. I chose special education because during my time as a coach I had the opportunity to work with children with autism and children with down syndrome. While it took a little more effort to coach these children than some of the others I worked with, that made it even more rewarding when we were able to make progress together. 

One of my favorite things I have done as a part of my major was in my Life Science for Educators class. We had the opportunity to have class in the outdoor learning area outside of Jamrich Hall. We explored the area and wrote ideas for labs we could run with students. It was a blast applying knowledge and getting to know my classmates.

On-campus I am quite involved with Catholic Campus Ministry. I love the community that I have been able to find in the people there. I have formed friendships there that I know will last a lifetime. I was so intimidated by joining clubs and getting involved, but once I took the leap I never looked back. I joined the NMU Crew Rowing team my Freshman year and it was extremely fun to try a new sport and get to know some amazing people. I also love to participate in workout classes offered at the Fitzone. The group of people that come regularly are super friendly and we love supporting each other through our fitness journey. Off-campus I work at a local school as an aide. It has been incredible to gain experience for my major while attending school. My job has been an incredible way to immerse myself in the community of Marquette. My most rewarding experience was when I had my first Regatta as a part of the NMU Crew Rowing team. I had never tried rowing before joining the team and it felt so good to go from having no clue how to row to competing as a part of the team. 

After graduation, I plan on moving back downstate to close the distance between my fiance and me. I hope to get a job at a local school and begin putting my teaching degree to good use. I also hope to take road trips around the country during the summers to see more national parks. Even after I leave Marquette, I hope the adventure never ends.

Don't be afraid of the snow! The culture around winter is completely different up here than it is anywhere I have been before. There are so many fun activities that you can get out and do while you are here during the winter months. There's nothing quite like a U.P. winter, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing! I have loved trying new things with friends that I could never do at a different school. Don't hide in the dorms. Get out there and explore, even if you have to wear a few layers to do it. 

I cannot predict what next semester will look like, but I plan on wearing my mask over my nose and mouth and continuing to socially distance myself from others to keep everyone here at Northern safe.