Kim GuseKim Guse, from Bolingbrook, Illinois, is a sophomore in Learning and Education Studies with a concentration in Educational Equality and Cultural Understanding. Kim came into EDUC 201 as an undeclared major, but was interested in the class and the educational system as a whole. After taking EDUC 201 and working with the Champaign Urbana Immigration Forum, she wanted to find more ways to engage in learning and teaching outside of the classroom. She has also been volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club throughout the Spring of 2016. She hopes to one day create exhibits in a children’s museum for families and community members from all backgrounds. Outside of her classes, she is also the President of Sexual Health Peers and a member of the Marching Illini.
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Student Voices with Kim Guse
On Why She Wants to Pursue a Career in Education
My mom has always been a huge impact in my life, let alone the fact that she literally gave me life. She has held multiple jobs while raising my brother and me. When I was about 3 until first grade, my mom was a community outreach manager at our local library. There, she created bilingual reading programs for families throughout the area. She also taught English in the local community center and was a volunteer reading specialist at the elementary school that my brother and I attended. After we moved from Hanover Park to Bolingbrook, she started working as a bilingual secretary at an elementary school in the area. Throughout all of her jobs, I have been amazed by her skill of incorporating education and learning without stepping foot in the classroom. She has really shown me that there is always more than one way to do something and that is why I am excited to pursue a career in creating programs for museums. I think museums are a great place to combine community involvement and learning, something that my mom has always been able to do while raising me and my brother.
For the longest time, I thought I wanted to be a teacher because I had so many great teachers throughout my schooling. But I felt like I was making that decision because that was one of the only careers I had ever seen firsthand, through my mom and through my teachers. I felt biased, but I was still drawn to education. Now that I’ve had time to reflect on my career goals and who I am, I feel like I know a little bit more of what I want to do. Not completely, but I’m sorting it out.
From watching my mom all of my life, I know that I want to be involved in my community. I want to play to my strengths and give back in those ways. My mom was able to bring together two communities by translating and creating English classes for Spanish speaking families to learn English a few nights a week. As a kid, I remember coming with her to the library on these nights and watching her teach and work with different families in the community. She made lifelong connections with these families and I hope to do similar community outreach in my own career.
For the longest time, I thought I wanted to be a teacher because I had so many great teachers throughout my schooling. But I felt like I was making that decision because that was one of the only careers I had ever seen firsthand, through my mom and through my teachers. I felt biased, but I was still drawn to education. Now that I’ve had time to reflect on my career goals and who I am, I feel like I know a little bit more of what I want to do. Not completely, but I’m sorting it out.
From watching my mom all of my life, I know that I want to be involved in my community. I want to play to my strengths and give back in those ways. My mom was able to bring together two communities by translating and creating English classes for Spanish speaking families to learn English a few nights a week. As a kid, I remember coming with her to the library on these nights and watching her teach and work with different families in the community. She made lifelong connections with these families and I hope to do similar community outreach in my own career.