Meet Shawna
What does this scholarship award mean to you?
These scholarships mean so much to me because they are helping me achieve the goals I have set for myself. I have an ultimate goal of becoming an elementary school teacher and these scholarships will help me get closer to achieving that goal. By receiving these scholarships, it also shows that I have been achieving every goal that I have set for myself so far. I started out at Ole Miss with the goal of making As throughout every semester until I graduate and I have made the Chancellor's List every semester since I started and I plan to continue.
Why did you choose to attend the University of Mississippi?
My family has always been Ole Miss fans so I knew from an early age that I would attend Ole Miss. I just was not quite sure what that degree was. I started working in childcare centers in 2019 and that is when I knew that I wanted to be a teacher because I loved teaching. In 2022, the daycare I was employed at closed the doors and I decided to use it as an opportunity to further my education at the University of Mississippi in becoming an elementary teacher.
Tell us about a favorite memory, professor, and/or academic course during your time at the School of Education:
My favorite memory so far in the School of Education was my first day of junior year the spring semester. Dr. Goralczyk had all of us go to the hallway and take a picture together, and we were all smiling, laughing, and celebrating our accomplishments we had made so far.
What inspired you to pursue a degree at the School of Education?
My nieces and being a Pre-K teacher inspired me to pursue a degree in education. I taught both of my nieces their ABCs, numbers, writing, and reading. I really found my passion for teaching and making it fun to learn with them. I also wanted to be a role model for both of them and show them that when you work hard you can accomplish any goal that you set for yourself. Being a Pre-K teacher also inspired me to pursue my degree because I loved that I could see the impact I was making on my students.
Tell us about your community involvements and/or hobbies:
I am in the student organization Teachers of Tomorrow (TOTs) here at the University of Mississippi. I participated in the organization during the 2023-2024 school year. I was awarded as the student with the most service hours completed during my junior year. This year, I will be serving as Treasurer of TOT. My hobbies include hanging out with my nieces and my nephew as much as possible. I also love spending time with my husband. We do a lot of fishing together because he loves fishing and even has a YouTube fishing channel.
What do you plan to do after graduation?
When I graduate, I plan to become a 1st grade elementary school teacher at Pontotoc Elementary School in Pontotoc, MS. I graduated from Pontotoc High School and I have always loved Pontotoc. I would really love to teach where I started my love for learning. My plan is to be the best teacher I can be and have a comfortable classroom where every student feels welcome and happy to be there.