Senior David McCormack has enjoyed his time on campus with involvement in Best Buddies, the Newman Center, and intramural sports. Most of all, he cherishes his experiences in his chosen field of Special Education. He recalls the beginnings of his affinity for special education back in high school, "I decided that I'd want to follow this passion and start to devote my life to it." Now, David is looking forward to starting his professional career as a Special Educator in a classroom of his own at Lincoln Jr. High this fall.
A little bit about David:
Q: Where is home for you?
A: Naperville, Illinois.
Q: What is your year and major?
A: I'm a senior in Special Education.
Q: What do you enjoy about the campus experience, so far?
A: I've enjoyed getting to meet new people and the freedom to pursue what interests me. I've also enjoyed getting involved in different things on campus like Best Buddies, the Newman Center, and different intramural sports.
Q: How did you know you wanted to go into the field of education?
A: I always knew that I wanted to make an impact and help others the best I can. After a few experiences in high school I discovered my passion for special education and teaching. I decided that I'd want to follow this passion and start to devote my life to it.
Q: What do you enjoy about the College of Education?
A: I've enjoyed that the College of Education is more personalized. The staff really care about you and your future students while getting to know who you are and why you are in education.
Q: Do you have a favorite professor or course? Why?
A: Dr. Suzanne Lee is my favorite professor I've had in my time at UIUC. She taught us the skills we needed to know and went above and beyond every week. She would consistently go out of her way to make sure we knew the best practices and were implementing them correctly.
Q: What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: I've been bull fighting before and have over 70 first cousins.
Q: Tell us about any research you've done and the mentorship you've received from your instructors.
A: I did a research study my freshman year with Dr. Maya Israel and her team. We went through interviews to find similarities and differences in students who were exposed to coding classes in elementary school.
Q: Tell us about your future career plans after graduating and why you want to pursue that field.
A: I plan to teach Special Education at Lincoln Jr. High in the fall. I believe everyone has dignity and can learn. I'm excited to share my passion and experiences with my students.
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