Anisa Chatman grew up in Champaign, so the University of Illinois was all around her. But it wasn't until her senior year in high school and an opportunity to research segregation in the classroom that she decided to pursue education as a career. Now she's working toward her degree and hoping to be someone who creates positive action within education.
A little bit about Anisa:
Q: Where is home for you?
A: Champaign, Illinois
Q: What is your year and major?
A: I'm a sophomore Learning and Education Studies major.
Q: How did you know you wanted to go into the field of education?
A: I knew I wanted to be in the field of education after I had the opportunity of presenting a research essay that I wrote my senior year of high school that was about classroom segregation. I thoroughly enjoyed doing research, creating surveys, and even reflecting on my own experiences when writing this essay, and that's when I knew I wanted to be a person within the field of education who will contribute to creating positive change within the educational system.
Q: What do you enjoy about the College of Education?
A: What I enjoy the most about the College of Education is how kind all the staff and students are.
Q: What do you enjoy about your campus experience so far?
A: What I have been really enjoying about campus so far is attending the many different cultural events on campus such as the Black and Latinx Summit and the various events that BNAACC and the CBSUs host. I've been really enjoying being in a community with other students of color on campus.
Q: Do you have a favorite professor or course, and why?
A: I think my favorite course is EPSY 201. I feel like out of all of my education classes thus far, this has been the one that has given me the most knowledge. The information that I have been getting out of this class has been fascinating and has encouraged me to reflect on my educational journey more than I ever have.
Q: Tell us about any study abroad experiences and why you thought they benefited your life and career.
A: This past winter break, I had the opportunity of studying abroad in Nairobi, Kenya, where I had the privilege of visiting different parts of the beautiful country and meeting so many gracious people. This life-changing experience has encouraged me to learn multiple languages, understand my position as an American, and makes me eager to learn about different cultures. I believe as an educator, all of these things can be very beneficial to creating a more inclusive and welcoming space for all different kinds of students.
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