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Meet Ciera Tucker, a Secondary Education Social Studies major from Omro, Wisconsin. She plans to graduate in May of 2022.
Why did you decide to come to NMU?
I originally decided to come to NMU because of the Neuroscience program, but through talks with advisers, friends, faculty, and a lot of soul searching I realized my passion was really in education. Part of that decision came from reflecting back on all of the tutoring I did throughout middle school and high school, and through the desire to help people, and become a support system for students much like my secondary teachers were for me.
What's an example of a cool, interesting or helpful thing that you have done as a part of your major?
One of the coolest things I was able to do through my coursework as an Education major was to spend a day in a bilingual elementary school in Green Bay, Wisconsin. We went there as part of our field experience, and we got to experience a diverse setting filled with some amazing kids. The Danz trip was so much fun, and has been one of the experiences here at Northern that I think will stick with me for a long time.
What are you involved in on- and off-campus and what has been the most rewarding experience?
I think one of the most rewarding experiences I've had so far has been when I was placed in local middle school classrooms for observation. I got to spend first hour with some 6th grade students and second hour with some 8th grade students once a week for 8 weeks. From this observation period, I was able to take in a lot of advice from the supervising teachers, but I also created some really cool connections with the students. Getting to the point where students were comfortable enough with me to ask for my help, even ask me some questions about college, and getting excited about me coming back the following week was such a valuable experience that I can't even properly put it into words.
Do you have any advice for someone who is considering NMU?
I would absolutely recommend coming to Northern. If you're considering coming here definitely take advantage of programs such as Wildcat Weekend and the Presidential Scholarship Competition. From the moment I stepped foot on this campus it felt like home, and I didn't want to leave, so I'd definitely recommend spending some time here to get a feel for the campus.
Further comments about your NMU experience:
My experience at Northern Michigan University has been life-changing in every possible way. Here, I was able to develop my identity, learn to think and advocate for myself, I had the support of an amazing group of professors who became mentors, and met friends who became family. NMU will always feel like home to me, and I can't help but feel an immense amount of sadness at the thought of leaving upon graduation. I will always be incredibly grateful for the opportunity for learning experiences, memories, and lifelong bonds that were a result of my time at NMU.
