I had the opportunity to become a peer instructor for a communication first year seminar. This class is for freshman who are interested in communication fields such as journalism, PR, communication, and media studies. Freshman year is the often the most difficult year of college, and the transition can be lonely. It was my goal to make the class a safe environment for all my students. I was worried I would not make an impact on the students in my class, but that fear quickly wore away. As an instructor, the most important thing I could do was educate myself, listen, and help. I attended diversity and inclusion workshops to learn more. In class, I would not tolerate hate or discrimination of any kind. If I saw a student struggling, I would speak to them privately to check in on them. I had one student who was doing poorly in class and needed some extra help. I listened and adapted my teaching style. I knew there was no possible way for a student to focus on schoolwork if they felt unsafe in the classroom. Looking back, I will take what I learned from my diversity and inclusion seminars and apply them to every situation I am in.

I loved my time at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center. This opportunity was initially reccommended to me by a professor who understands my love of art and community. I have learned about conducting proper communication with artists, performers, and the public. I know that art can unite communities together, and I love being a part of that! This summer at the arts center, I had the opportunity to assist with art camps. I had a blast!