My name is Hannah Hyder and I am a junior here at Kennesaw. I major in elementary education. Iʼm currently the senator in SGA for the college of Bagwell. Before enrolling into Kennesaw, I earned my associates of Science degree at a previous institution in 2019. Quite honestly, I was satisfied with that. I was pretty much over school. I didnʼt want any more school or so I thought . However, I became pregnant, and I knew I had to keep going because I wanted to better my position in life to support my son . With that being said, just three weeks after having my baby boy, who actually came two months earlier than expected, I started at Kennesaw, online in August 2020.
Being a new mom, especially during a pandemic, and being a student has been nothing short of challenging . Not to mention, Iʼm a full time infant teacher at a private school.
Yes, I have a small village that helps me from time to time. But I like to remind myself that they have lives too. Time management and rest is key in my life. I believe Iʼm built for this , and Iʼm fully committed to becoming the best version of myself.
My Advice
Become your own cheerleader ! Root for you, be you, and never wait on anyone. Be optimistic about each day that you wake up to see because youʼve never saw it before . So make it your own!
Nina Meditz Success Story
I finished my junior year here at KSU and am starting my YCE in the fall. I am striving
to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education in May of 2022. Besides
my major classes, I am also completing a minor in German Studies as well as Mathematics
and am an Honors Research Scholar. In addition to that, I serve as the German Club
and Delta Phi Alpha German Honor Society presidents and on the BCOE Student advisory
board. I love everything that I do and am achieving, but it can get overwhelming at
times. Juggling my academics with my extracurriculars and social life can be challenging.
Starting with academics, I completed my last general education class this semester
in addition to my full schedule with my education classes. I am a person that loves
to learn in a classroom environment so having the majority online classes really threw
a wrench in my learning. Not only is there less discussion in online classes but there
is also a very limited social aspect. This gets even harder when the classes are asynchronous.
Having to balance time specific classes with the work form asynchronous classes has
been a struggle for me this semester. I pride myself with being very organized in
my school and private life. This helped me greatly when trying to find a schedule
that incorporated all my schoolwork, extra curriculars and social life. Eventually
I found a good schedule that worked for me and that helped me get ahead of my classes.
I also made it a point to meet with my peers (those willing and following CDC guidelines)
outside of class to get to know them better and work on classwork together. This social
aspect was very important in my success this semester. Looking into the future, I
will be completing my YCE 1 and 2 in the fall and spring semesters as well as my Honors
Capstone project. I think that this semester has challenged me in my academics as
well as in my personal life and the things I have learned from it will guide me in
the next semesters as well as in the future.
My Advice
My advice for future education students is that you are in charge of your own destiny.
It is your responsibility to get informed about your classes and plans you have for
the future. Your advisors can only help you so much but if you take the initiative
to be the best student you can be, then you will be successful.
Tiffany Brawner Success Story
My name is Tiffany Brawner. I am a junior here at Kennesaw State University, thriving toward my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. I am a 39-year-old single mother of three sons, ages 9, 19, and 23. How has the fall semester been for me? While my oldest son no longer lives at home, managing five classes while being a mom to a first-year college student and a child that has autism, has served as a significant challenge this semester. In addition, I have experienced diverse health issues, with one of those issues leading me into the operating room for a surgical procedure. This entire year, specifically this semester, has been the season of juggling stones, one stone after the other. And needless to say, the Covid-19 pandemic hasn’t made the burden any lighter. At the beginning of this semester, while working diligently to conquer my own educational tasks, I was also homeschooling my youngest son, while helping my middle son transition into becoming a college freshman. This presented a challenge for me, as I had to stay awake and use time during the night to complete assignments. Being a single mother is difficult within itself, however, being a single parent to a child with special needs presents a different kind of challenge. I have struggled greatly this semester in managing the challenges of my son’s disability while trying to manage all five classes. With all of my classes being online this semester, there have been several days where I had to juggle between tending to my son and being in class virtually, which often interfered with my ability to focus during class.
Nevertheless, I am here!
While I could go on and on about my challenges, there is beauty is all aspects of life, even those that cause you to have some crying days. I myself, have had many, especially this semester. But the good news is that I’ve pressed, pushed, and conquered! Despite every odd against me, I have successfully achieved all assignments and have submitted each of them on time. As a result of my diligence, I am completing the fall semester with all A’s, maintaining my beautiful and triumphant 4.0 GPA! Today, I stand a few steps closer to the very thing my heart desires, my KSU cap and gown, and that Elementary Education degree in my hand. It is safe to say, that every tear, every sleepless night, and every stone… was worth it! I am here. And I am blooming!
My Advice
To my fellow BCOE students, bloom where you are planted! Use every obstacle as motivation to thrive toward your education and any other emerging goal you may have. Remember, that a little faith in yourself, combined with perseverance, has the capacity to move any mountain. Whatever it is that you are working to accomplish here at KSU, you can, and you will. Your family, your friends, and even your future students, will be inspired by your success. So, keep conquering and keep winning! You’re off to great things!
