After a few minutes鈥� conversation with sophomore Melanie Carignan, you can tell that she鈥檚 going to be one of those fun, energetic and inspiring teachers whose students look forward to class.
She鈥檚 majoring in elementary education and planning to minor in English and history. And she鈥檚 taken every opportunity to get involved in the School of Education.
She鈥檚 the social media chairwoman of the campus chapter of SEAM 鈥� the Student Education Association of Massachusetts 鈥� and a Centers for Learning tutor for first-year education majors.
As one of the first five student ambassadors for the undergraduate education major, Carignan reaches out to prospective students and plans events for first-year education majors.聽
She鈥檚 also the first undergraduate to volunteer to train as an ambassador to college alumni. She even attended a fine-dining workshop so that she can represent the college proudly 鈥� and politely 鈥� at formal events, including the Celebration of Philanthropy.
鈥淚 love being involved on campus,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to be a face for the school, not only for prospective students, but for past students. I did it out of pure love for the school.鈥�
When Carignan first applied to 51视频, the university didn鈥檛 offer an undergraduate education major. So Carignan planned to major in聽English, minor in聽education聽and get her master鈥檚 degree, with the goal of teaching English in middle school.
Then a friend of hers tweeted that the university was reintroducing the undergraduate education major after a hiatus of more than three decades. Carignan knew it was risky to join a brand-new program, but based on the聽School of Education's聽great reputation, she figured it was a good bet.
鈥淚 really went in blind, but it鈥檚 way better than I ever expected,鈥� she says. 鈥淐ompared to other colleges, we鈥檙e going into the classroom right away.鈥�
The undergraduate program includes dual certification in elementary education and education for children in K-8 with moderate disabilities. First-year students spend part of their class time observing and teaching lessons at the Charlotte M. Murkland School in Lowell.
As a sophomore, Carignan found one practicum in a second-grade classroom in Westford for her Foundations of Reading class, and another at Tyngsboro Elementary School for her Moderate Disabilities class. She鈥檚 having a blast working with the kids.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really fun. It gives you a perspective on everything,鈥� she says.
Carignan鈥檚 entering class included just 13 students. As an orientation leader over the summer, she helped to welcome this fall鈥檚 class, which includes 30 first-year and transfer students. Now she supports the new students, both as a tutor and as a student ambassador. It was her idea for each of the ambassadors to personally welcome and mentor a half-dozen entering students.
鈥淚f they need to turn to somebody, they can turn to us,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e a little family.鈥�