Junior Matthew Sondag's choice to pursue Early Childhood Education was inspired by the quote, "To see the change, you must create the change." His goal is to create a classroom that promotes acceptance, respect, kindness, and the love of learning.
After graduation, Matthew plans to take his passion for teaching to a Pre-K special education classroom. He says it's an area where he sees the most opportunity to reduce the stigma around special needs by creating an inclusive classroom setting.
More about Matthew
Q. What do you enjoy about your campus experience, so far?
A. It's been incredible to meet so many new people and learn about so many different perspectives.
Q. What do you enjoy about the College of Education?
A. The College of Education isn't afraid to make you leave your comfort zone. In our classes, we've learned about deeper issues in education such as social justice and reform, which I think is incredibly needed. The college recognizes that being a teacher is so much deeper than teaching a child the alphabet, and that your impact goes beyond the classroom. Additionally, the College is filled with kind, hardworking individuals who share the same passion for education.
Q. Do you have a favorite professor, or course? Why?
A. My favorite professor is Ana Olguin, who has made my first year of my professional sequence as stress-free as possible. Ana knows how to make her students feel valued, and her passion for Early Childhood Education shines through in everything that she does. My favorite course on campus has been GWS 100 with Toby Beauchamp, which taught me so much about the constructions of gender, sexuality, and race.
Q. Fun fact about me:
A. At the moment, I'm most inspired by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is currently serving on the U.S. House of Representatives as the youngest woman to be elected into Congress. Other role models of mine are Hillary Rodham Clinton and James Baldwin.
