Senior and History/Secondary Education major Diamond Dadej is teaching us a lot more than history in this week’s blog. Read on for a lesson in learning from those around you, pride in where you come from, determination in where you are going, and one very important reminder to carry with you throughout the semester:
“Nothing is impossible for an Illini.”
A little bit about Diamond
Q: Where is home for you?
A: Chicago, Illinois
Q:What is your major?
I'm a senior in History/Secondary Education.
Q: What do you enjoy about your campus experience, so far?
A: That even virtually, we all aspire for greatness. This is a school filled with hard workers, and big achievers. Nothing is impossible for an Illini.
Q: How did you know you wanted to go into the field of education?
A: I was motivated to pursue education by the influence of amazing social studies and history teachers at my high school, Lane Tech in Chicago. I aspire to join their department one day and teach alongside my role models.
Q: What do you enjoy about the College of Education?
A: How tight knit cohorts and graduating in our cohorts become; We’re all one and want to help one another. I found a sense of community and home in the College of Education.
Q: Do you have a favorite professor, or course? Why?
A: I would have to say EDUC 202 taught by Doctor Gutierrez is amazing. It really sparked my passion.
Q: What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: I am fluent in Polish and English and I am super proud of my heritage, while also actively seeking to achieve progress movements and spark change in my Polish-American community by fighting intolerance and misknowledge (shoutout to Dr. Gutierrez and Alissa Irvin, I still use EDUC 202 vocab words til this day).
Q: Tell us about any research you’ve done and the mentorship you’ve received from your instructors.
A: I was a research assistant for Professor Avrutin in the history department, and I utilized research tools and world wide primary source catalogues that catapulted me into understanding how the study of social studies can foster you to become a critical and analytical thinker. I want to pass this knowledge down to young adults in their study of secondary education social studies.
Q: Tell us about your future career plans after graduating and why you want to pursue that field.
A: As mentioned before, I hope to teach at the high school I attended, which was Lane Tech College Prep on the north side of Chicago. I have so much to give back to my former high school while also implementing better education atonal practices and stronger support for my future students so they don’t feel lost or treated like a number in a school like Lane with over 4,000 kids. Personalized learning and better and more realistic college prep is needed in my former high school, and I am ready to initiate these conversations and life lessons in my classroom.
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