Meet Jenny
Thank you so much for the scholarship you have given me. I am a transfer student that
lost a lot of funding when I transferred and have had a very hard time staying at Edgewood
College because of finances. This last year has been very difficult for me with the
transition and I did not know if I would be able to afford to come back to Edgewood
this fall. When I received the news of this scholarship, I began to believe again
that I could come back to school and continue to study to become a high school math teacher.
I grew up in Schaumburg, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago. I enjoyed it there, however my parents divorced and my mother and two sisters could not afford to live there anymore. We then came to Wisconsin; I was 10 years old at the time. I learned how to live in a small town, Richland Center, and continued to be very close and connected to my family. I attended Richland Center High School with my sisters being my best friends. They influenced my activities in high school from joining plays to the classes I took. My oldest sister influenced me to become a math tutor, which is when I realized I wanted to teach for the rest of my life.
Finances did not ease with our move to Wisconsin; our town is small and jobs are scarce. My mother worked very hard, receiving minimum wage to support our family. She is now the executive director at Passages Inc., a non-profit organization that helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. I attended Viterbo University in the fall of 2006, but it did not work out because I missed my family. I transferred to Edgewood College in the winter of 2006 because my older sister attends school there, as well as being closer to home. I was also aware that Edgewood College had a wonderful Education Program.
During the school year, I was a caller for Edgewood’s Phonathon, helping to raise money for the school. I was a live-in nanny this summer for four children. My major is Mathematics with a minor in Education. I became a disciplinarian figure for the children I cared for as a nanny, applying the same problem-solving skills that teachers need in the classroom. I also interacted with children last semester as a middle school small group leader for religious education at Sr. Maria Goretti, a Catholic Church in Madison. My interests include playing soccer, getting to know people, and hanging out with my family as often as possible.
I am looking forward to earning my teaching license and degree from Edgewood College. I enjoy the Math Program here and the hands-on experiences in my practicum. I enjoy getting to know more of the teachers and students at Edgewood College and uncovering new opportunities for growth in my faith, as well as in academics.
All this would not be possible without the support of generous people like you. Being a scholarship recipient has allowed me to again hope and believe that fulfilling my dreams of becoming a teacher is possible.
