Bridgid Miller
College: School of Education
Double Major: Elementary Education and Spanish
Hometown: Hopkins, Minnesota
Q: Why did you choose to attend Drake?
A: I really liked the size of the school and the campus. I loved how the campus is really small and interconnected with each other.
Q: What is your favorite campus memory?
A: I loved paint fights every year and being a part of the Drake Relays. I have the best memories from painting our square with my club and cheering on the runners in the Drake Road Races.
Q: How has Drake shaped who you are today?
A: Drake helped me meet so many people who I hope will be lifelong friends. Since the School of Education is so small, I’m really close with my cohort of graduates, and I have loved having that support network throughout four years of classes, student teaching, job applications, and hopefully first jobs too!
Q: What is next for you after you graduate?
A: I am still anxiously awaiting hearing from the Fulbright commission. I’ve applied to teach English in Spain next year. We haven’t heard anything yet, but I’d love to go work abroad, one way or another! My backup plan is to go home to Minnesota and work either in English Language Learning, Spanish Immersion, or general education in an elementary school.
Q: Who have been some of your important mentors during your time at Drake?
A: There have been so many of my professors that have helped me learn about teaching. I’ve particularly appreciated the professors who taught me about everyday skills and practical application of everything we learned about. Professors like Dr. Dede Small, Dr. Jen Thoma, Dr. Jerrid Kruse, and Professor Michelle Krogulski have all had a huge role in my learning, and I feel so grateful to have had such great mentors. Another group that has been really helpful in my student teaching, in particular are the friends that I made during my studies who graduated and started teaching in the real world. It’s been amazing to hear from them and get advice from people who were in my shoes just a short time ago.
Q: Are you involved in any student organizations, groups, or community service work? Tell us about those experiences.
A: I am in Drake women’s club soccer, which I have loved participating in. That group of friends has been so beneficial to me and it’s such a great community and welcoming! I’m also in the Drake Education Association / Kappa Delta Pi (DEA/KDP), the education fraternity. That has given me a really supportive group and a space to talk about anything related to my classes and student teaching experience.
Q: How has Drake helped you prepare for your future career?
A: Without Drake, I wouldn’t have heard about the Fulbright program which I am very excited about. I also feel like because of the many practicum experiences that I got through being in an urban area, I’ve gotten experience with so many different groups of students. This has been so beneficial for me because I now feel like I am confident that I can handle just about anything in the classroom because I’ve gotten to see so many examples of great teaching.
Q: Based on your experience, what makes Drake special and sets it apart from other schools?
A: The urban campus helped me get a lot of experience for my teaching career, and I’ve really appreciated that. I also really loved having a J-Term that has allowed me to study abroad.