EHS Student Stories

In my Ecological Economics course, I worked with a small group on a Climate Action Plan for Champlain to become carbon neutral by 2030. It took many weeks, and a lot of effort, but our group presented it to Interim President Dr. Laurie Quinn to work on making the project a reality. A huge benefit of going to a small school is a president who listens to their students.

My favorite class was my Ecology course because I love science, labs, and getting outside. Since our class was small, we were able to go around the community to observe local ecosystems. I learned a lot during this course, and I'm sure other science lovers would adore it just as much.

I am currently the Public Programs & Education intern at the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, so I teach children and families STEM concepts at the Center and at schools around Vermont. Most of my classes at Champlain are discussion-based, so I learned not to shy away from a debate and grow as a public speaker.

Through my student teaching at Orchard Elementary School, I really got an idea of what life would be like as an actual teacher. I was in the classroom for roughly 40 hours a week. I learned different classroom management techniques and creative ways to teach academic content. Because my internship is so connected with the work I'll be doing in my career, I think that I am very well prepared. Though I'm going into the workforce as a first year teacher, I've had tons of experience in a variety of classroom settings thanks to Champlain.

I've been a mentor at Champlain's chapter of the DREAM program since my first year. We work with youth ages six to eighteen living in low-income housing in Milton. Every Friday, we do different activities together, like apple-picking, bowling, playing at local playgrounds, and so much more. Being a part of this club has been so rewarding. As much as I hope I made an impact on my mentees' lives, I know they made an even bigger one on mine.

In the spring of 2019, I studied abroad in New Zealand through the Auckland University of Technology. I took classes on both the Maori culture, as well as education in New Zealand. One of my favorite experiences was getting to volunteer at a primary school while I was there. I worked with year one students-equivalent to kindergarten in the U.S.-so I got to see New Zealand's education system in action. I plan to implement elements of their education system into my future classroom.

When it came time to apply to college, I felt lost about what I wanted to do until I realized that I had always been passionate about nature. I wanted to spend my time protecting it, and I figured the best way to do that would be to write policy, educate others, and be an ally for the planet. I was intrigued by the Environmental Studies & Policy program at Champlain because it wasn't limited to environmental science, and it brought the issues into a social lens.

I love the Environmental Studies & Policy program, the professors who teach in it, and the content we cover. Our small classes allow for positive growth and meaningful discussions, which further our individual and collective development. Our professors are incredibly passionate, knowledgeable, and unique. Because our program is so close-knit, we became close with professors and we were able to enhance our learning on a more personal level.

The Upside-Down Curriculum allowed me to jump right into the type of learning and work that I hope to continue in my professional career. I am interested in community engagement, education, and empowerment around social and environmental issues, and my classwork and internships have provided me with a solid foundation of knowledge to feel confident in that field.

I chose Psychology because I'm passionate about helping people, especially children. I love to think philosophically and then take my thoughts and find ways to apply them. I've loved the Psychology program at Champlain! I enjoy the combination of hearing field stories from my professors with hands-on experience, even in the classroom. I like discussing case studies and reading different content that we not only discuss in class, but also criticize, as if we are part of the professional Psychology community.

My most rewarding project was a research assignment for my Research Methods & Analysis II course. It was a very difficult and time-consuming project, but I was able to choose my own topic, write a proposal, work with actual research to develop my skills in research psychology, perform testing on almost 200 participants, and then present it to other members of the Psychology community here at Champlain. I wouldn't want to do it again, but it's an experience I would never trade.

I work as a Resident Assistant on campus with sophomores, and I mentor first-year students through the Office of Diversity & Inclusion (ODI). My learning experiences in the classroom have helped me become more introspective and develop skills that help me reflect on who I am and understand what I need. Those skills have helped me to help others understand what they need, which allows me to connect students to the resources they need to lead them to success and health.

Social Work is one of the smallest programs at Champlain, and I love it. The small classes are extremely beneficial because we can go through real-world experiences and ask any questions we have. We are also encouraged to go into the field early and often. My third year, I took a job in the Emergency Department at the University of Vermont Medical Center doing crisis work, and I already felt prepared at that point.

I'm interning at the Burlington Police Department for my whole senior year. I have mostly focused on creative narratives for our bi-weekly "substat" meetings where we discuss any incidents we've had with individuals involved with substance use or serious mental health challenges. The goal of these meetings is to identify those in our community who need help, and then do outreach to gauge their interest in treatment, but also to let them know we're here, we care about them, and we want them to succeed. 


My internship has given me lots of opportunities to see how law enforcement and social work go hand in hand. 

I may be biased because I'm an RA, but the sense of community in the first year residence halls is the best. I'm still friends with people I lived with my first year, and again as an RA of that same hall when I was a junior. I hang out with my residents, and they come cheer me on at hockey games.

When you first come here [as an international student], you have a week-long Orientation, during which you get to know more about the school, and you go out and do things in Burlington. During the semester, you meet other international students and engage in activities that bring everyone together in a community on campus. I didn't know how it would feel to come here, but I love it.

I am very passionate about empowering women and girls, especially coming from The Gambia, where women are less educated and not often involved in decision making. I started working with nongovernmental organizations that are involved with supporting girls' education and women's rights before coming here, and for the first time, I am able to do what I love, which is social work. I'm building the skills I need to become the person I want to be.

I love being in the Women's & Gender Center. It provides a safe space for me, and I know I can go there and get the support I need. You meet many students who are hanging out, doing assignments, having conversations, playing games... When there are activities going on, you're always welcome to participate. That's why I love being here.

The best part of my program is the people I get to work with. The professors in the major are some of the most amazing people I have met. A benefit of having small class sizes is that we really get to know each other. Plus, the professors are all extremely knowledgeable in their fields. Every professor I've had has some major accomplishments under their belts. Many of my professors have had books or scholarly articles published.

The fall semester of my first year I got to help out in a classroom, which is rare for education majors at other schools. I have also interned at Edmunds Middle School in Burlington, VT. Twice a week, another student and I went into a classroom for one period, helped out with the lesson, and worked one-on-one with students. It was a great opportunity to actually work in a school. We got useful, hands-on practice and learned more about working with students. Since my first year, I have been taking notes, observing professionals, and learning about what I can incorporate into my own classroom.

After graduation, I would like to get a job teaching in a high school. Then I plan to begin looking into graduate schools and getting my master's degree.

I love it. I love that it's a very small, tight-knit group of people. We have our group chats, and we're always looking out for each other. If one of us isn't in class, we're on it, making sure they're OK. It's because we're Social Workers; we're built to do that.

Oh, 100%. What stuck out to me when I took my first tour at Champlain was that it doesn't believe in standardized testing. As someone with two learning disabilities, I don't learn very well through text and reading. And, it was incredible that during the second semester of my first year, I was able to start volunteering at the YMCA, and now I have a job there. At a traditional school, with a traditional curriculum, I wouldn't be doing that until my junior year.

I was in a class called Bodies: Radical Awakening with Faith Yacubian. I just love Faith. She makes sure that everyone gets what they need. The class was based off that, about radically understanding your body. She told us in class, "If your body is telling you that you need to get up and that you need to do something, you need to listen to it." It was really interesting to learn how to listen to what your body needs.

From a very young age, I always wanted to be a teacher. Teaching has always been my passion. My goal is to leave a positive impact on the lives of future doctors, lawyers, engineers, and future teachers. I chose Early Childhood/Elementary Teacher Education, specifically, because I want to be one of the first influences in a child's life. After all, you probably won't forget your kindergarten or third grade teacher.

I love the idea of living on campus because you get to meet new people and build a community with those who live in the same hall as you. I met some really cool students who lived in my hall. It's great to hang out with people who have nothing in common with your major at times. Not only do you get to share information with them, but you also get to learn new and exciting things from their lives.

After graduation, I plan to move to a large city and find a school that's hiring teachers. My plan is to teach for about five years, then apply to grad school to get my master's degree. My ultimate dream is to become the principal of a school that I found and open.

At Champlain, I was able to dive into coursework and the elementary education field experience from the first semester of my first year. The Upside-Down Curriculum allowed me to develop my professional skills in a meaningful and beneficial manner. I've been placed in a number of classroom environments and have developed the tools to meet the needs of diverse students in multiple ways.

Core shone a light on the true interdisciplinary nature of the world. I was able to work on skills necessary for an educator such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and synthesis. I was also able to supplement my learning of pedagogy with psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy while understanding the connections to other majors in various divisions.

I am currently interning in a Spanish immersion kindergarten classroom at Jericho Elementary School. My duties in the classroom include implementing behavioral support and aiding in class preparation. This opportunity to meld my two areas of study is a goal I did not know would be so seamlessly achievable. Thanks to my advisor, I was able to explore a career path I've wanted to pursue as long as I can remember.

I'm interning at the Burlington Police Department for my whole senior year. I have mostly focused on creative narratives for our bi-weekly "substat" meetings where we discuss any incidents we've had with individuals involved with substance use or serious mental health challenges. The goal of these meetings is to identify those in our community who need help, and then do outreach to gauge their interest in treatment, but also to let them know we're here, we care about them, and we want them to succeed. 

My internship has given me lots of opportunities to see how law enforcement and social work go hand in hand.

I may be biased because I'm an RA, but the sense of community in the first year residence halls is the best. I'm still friends with people I lived with my first year, and again as a Resident Assistant (RA) of that same hall when I was a junior. I hang out with my residents, and they come cheer me on at hockey games.

Social Work is one of the smallest programs at Champlain, and I love it. The small classes are extremely beneficial because we can go through real-world experiences and ask any questions we have. We are also encouraged to go into the field early and often. My third year, I took a job in the Emergency Department at the University of Vermont Medical Center doing crisis work, and I already felt prepared at that point.