Pursuing her Dreams

With the goal of becoming a school counselor eventually, Lauren Tandy ’20 hopes to combine her passions for education and psychology.

MMU: What about teaching interested you? When did your passion for education start?

LT: I think what most interested me in teaching was the idea of helping students learn and grow in a variety of ways. As a child, I didn’t learn in the same way as many of my classmates did, and that was very frustrating for me. I was lucky enough to have teachers who assisted and supported me in finding learning styles that worked best for me. Those teachers who took the extra time to help me become a better learner, drove my passion for education.

MMU: What is your philosophy regarding education? How is your Mercy education benefiting you so far?

LT: My philosophy regarding education is that every child should be given the opportunity to learn in a safe and supportive environment. I believe that all children can learn if they have someone to support them and to hold them to achievable expectations. I think that it is important that children are treated with compassion, kindness, and respect regardless of their backgrounds. My Mercy education has reinforced the importance of serving others in a compassionate manner.

MMU: Why did you choose Mount Mercy’s education program over others? What interested you about MMU?

LT: I chose Mount Mercy before I knew what career I wanted to pursue. However, I knew Mount Mercy was the right place for me as soon as I experienced the positive and welcoming atmosphere of the campus.

"I knew Mount Mercy was the right place for me as soon as I experienced the positive and welcoming atmosphere of the campus."

MMU: What excites you most about your courses? What’s one lesson or piece of advice you’ve taken to heart?

LT: The opportunities that the education courses have to offer are what excite me most. Some of the opportunities that I most enjoy are the wide range of field experiences, the small class sizes, and collaborative work with my peers. I think the most important thing that I have learned is you can’t learn and improve if you don’t take chances.

MMU: What area of education interests you the most, e.g. reading, math, science, special education, etc.? What does your dream job look like?

LT: I truly enjoy teaching all areas of education, which is a big reason that I chose elementary education versus a specific area in secondary education. If I had to choose an area that interests me most, I would choose science because of the endless opportunities for hands on learning. I love seeing the look on students faces when they discover something! Psychology has also always been a passion of mine and I will graduate with a psychology minor in addition to the elementary education degree. I look forward to applying the knowledge that I have learned in both my psychology and education classes to my future classroom and to my dream job of being a school counselor.

MMU: What besides the academics excites you about Mount Mercy?

LT: The connections that I have made during my time at Mount Mercy are unlike any connections that I think I would have been able to make elsewhere. The opportunities to get involved on campus are both exciting and endless. I have been involved with both the admissions team and the residence life team serving as a student ambassador, a work study, and as a resident assistant.

MMU: What’s one challenge you’ve faced so far and how did you overcome it?

LT: One challenge that I face in my academic career is the desire to implement lessons and accomplish assignments perfectly every time. The reality of that desire: nearly impossible. I am working to overcome this challenge by learning to accept the fact that I am a learner. Learners take the feedback from others and strive to do better the next time.