Kolby Sirowich ‘24 | Elementary Education major
Fully engage in every opportunity here at Saint Anselm, not just the course load, but the experiences, conversations, and connections; they will prepare you for your future endeavors.
The experience and support that Kolby Sirowich ’24 received from the Education Department at Saint Anselm College led her to post-graduate success as she has works with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest and Sitka Conservation Society in Sitka, Alaska.
What made you choose Saint Anselm College?
I came to Saint Anselm because of the close-knit community and excitement to explore the service and volunteer opportunities that the college offers.
What clubs or organizations were you involved with on campus?
I worked as an academic mentor in the Meelia Center for Community Engagement as and at the Community Center at Saint Raphael Parish. Through Campus Ministry, I participated in four Anselmian B.R.E.A.K. experiences and had the opportunity to walk Road For Hope for three years. I also was a member of the Women's Club Rugby team and the Society of Saint Elizabeth Seton .
As an Elementary Education major, how was your senior year placement?
I was placed in Amherst, N.H. at Clark Wilkins Elementary School in a third-grade classroom. I enjoyed my experience, not only in the classroom but in the school district as well. The faculty at Clark Wilkins were supportive of each other and the third graders provided me with opportunities to grow and learn in their classrooms as well.
How did this placement help your teaching experience?
Senior year of student teaching, the major requires two weeks which pre-service educators get the chance to teach in the classroom on their own with minimal supervision. I found that the experience is extremely beneficial and has helped my classroom teaching. I made lessons on my own, managed the classroom, planned activities throughout the day, and worked with other teachers on the third-grade team. There was a lot to learn from my first to my second solo week, but I saw growth in myself and my abilities from the first to the second.
Aside from student teaching, did you have any other exciting off-campus opportunities?
Luckily, I had the opportunity to study abroad for a month in Greece. While attending school in Greece, I learned so much from the students, culture, and about the history of the country. I was so grateful for the experience and for the people I met during the month I spent there. I was able to explore new places, try new foods, and learn about the language and culture.
Something unique about Greece was attending a new school in a new place, where they did not speak my first language. I was grateful to get the opportunity to experience and learn from the diversity within the classroom. This has led me to think about how I want to shape my future classroom environment, and help new students feel safe and comfortable to learn and grow.
What was your favorite class on campus?
My favorite class was Science and Everyday Thinking with Physics Professor Nicole Gugliucci. In the class, students explore science hands-on with lab groups to understand how to teach science from a teacher's perspective. I enjoyed working closely with my peers, presenting lessons, creating experiments, and received feedback that helped me to grow as a student teacher.
Did you have a favorite professor?
All the professors in the Education Department played different roles in my journey to becoming an educator. They each provided insight into different concepts in education, offered me advice, and were always supportive of my work.
What do you have planned for post-grad life?
After graduation, I will be doing a year of service through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest (JVC NW.) Working with the Sitka Conservation Society in Sitka, Alaska, I will create programs for the youth of the community that emphasize living with the land and building community. I chose this program because of the support it offers the volunteers, the volunteer programs that aim to support the communities, and the systematic justice work they do.
How did your time at Saint Anselm lead you to this opportunity?
Saint Anselm guided me in this direction with all the opportunities and education it gave me. I learned that direct engagement is extremely important, especially with the support of the Meelia Center, I learned that civic engagement and systematic change are important. I learned both concepts through my education at the College and the values of the JVC NW program aligned with Saint Anselm’s Benedictine values.