NAME: Molly Burns

HOMETOWN: Covington, Kentucky

MAJOR: Early Childhood Education

MINOR: N/A

YEAR IN COLLEGE: Second year at NKU

Tell me about life pre-NKU.

I grew up and still live in Covington, Kentucky close to Taylor Mill. I went to Calvary Christian all the way through from pre-K to 12th grade. I then attended Gateway Community & Technical College for my first two years of college and got my Associates Degree studying pre-business. I took a year off of school after that and, during that time, decided that I wanted to work with children. That is when I decided I wanted to go back to school and study Early Childhood Education. I started at NKU the following fall semester.

Why did you choose NKU? What kept you here?

 I chose NKU for a few reasons. I had always heard from many different people how great their education program was, so that was very attractive to me. Another reason I chose NKU was that it is close to home. For where I was at in life, it just seemed like the right decision for me to stay home close to family. I stayed at NKU because I soon became a part of a few communities. One of them being the Early Childhood Education Club that was a part of my program and another organization called Campus Outreach. Within my first year at NKU, I became an officer of the Early Childhood Ed. Club and got involved in a Bible Study group within Campus Outreach. I am so thankful for those opportunities and knew after that that NKU was where I was supposed to be.

Can you tell me a little about what you're studying here?

As I mentioned above, I am studying Early Childhood Education. It is one of the smaller programs within the college of education, but I love how close I've grown with the people within it. Early Childhood Education focuses on working with children ages birth-kindergarten and emphasizes on the importance of their development during those years. People who work with this age group of children can be overlooked and just seen as "babysitting" them. However, it is much more than that. Some may not realize that these first few years of a child's life are some of the most important -- what happens to a child during this time can shape the type of person they become later on. I want to be a teacher/educator who does not just care about a child's academic development, but makes sure that child knows that they are loved and are in a safe place.

Could you tell me about the best of your experiences as a NKU student so far?

I would have to say that some of my best experiences as an NKU student have been centered around the community I have found here. Because of being involved with the Early Childhood Ed. Club, I have been able to get so
much closer to my professors and friends and the program. Specifically, I was
able to attend an early education conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was so much fun to spend time with a few friends from my program as well as soak in as much information as I could from the speakers. I am also super thankful for the Bible Study I have been able to be involved with for the past three semesters. They are a huge encouragement to me and I love getting to meet with them weekly.

Have you had any memorable internships or co-op experiences?

Being a part of the education program, I have been able to have three different field experiences so far within public preschool and kindergarten classes in the area. They have all been amazing experiences and I
am so grateful to have been a part of their classes even if for a short time.
One particular memory that stands out from my kindergarten placement was when the teacher allowed me to take over for a few minutes while she had to finish something. I remember that it had been a rough week for me due to some outside circumstances, but after leaving that day, Being allowed to teach for that short amount of time and being with the children was pretty therapeutic for me. That was just another affirmation that I was in the right program. My last day at each placement was bittersweet as I knew I would miss all the children, but so precious because each class made me cards to remember them.

What kind of job would you like to have after you graduate?

After I graduate, I hope to either become a kindergarten teacher or a developmental interventionist, and work with First Steps. First
Steps is Kentucky's early intervention program providing services to children
with disabilities or developmental delays ages birth-three.

Describe NKU in one word.

Opportunistic.

What’s your favorite class?

My favorite class so far has been "Interaction & Guidance.” This course was all about learning how to intentionally interact with the children that will be in my future classroom. I learned so much from this class about how to approach communication with my future students or simply any of the children that I come in contact with.

Where is your favorite spot on campus? What makes that spot
so special?

One of my favorite spots on campus would be at a corner table in Starbucks on a rainy day. I like this spot so much because of how cozy it is and I know I am bound to see some friends or a familiar face while I am there.

Where’s the best place to study on campus?

I have found that the best place for me to study or get work done on campus is either in the library or the student lounge area on the second floor of MEP.

What is your greatest passion?

Something I am very passionate about, in all areas of my life, is building intentional relationships with people and showing them the love that I have been shown by Jesus. I want to be a friend, family member and educator who loves those around me well, and helps them to see how valuable they are.

What is your favorite NKU memory?

My favorite NKU memories have probably had to do with
something surrounding Early Childhood Education Club. It has provided so many opportunities for me to grow and given me some solid friendships that I am so thankful for. Probably my favorite memory has been getting to work alongside Dr. Gilbert and my fellow ECE Club officers, Katie Elkus and Cydnee Locke for the past two semesters. I have loved getting to know each of them better and plan activities for the club.

What advice would you give to a first-year student?

My biggest piece of advice for a first-year student would be
to get involved! If I had never branched out and tried the ECE Club and Campus Outreach, I would have very little meaningful connections with people on campus. There is a balance with this though. Don't feel pressured to try every single thing you see, because that will just overwhelm you and is not healthy. However, do what you can to step outside of your comfort zone. It is hard at first, but so worth it. At the end of your time here at NKU, you will be so grateful that you tried something new. If you cannot seem to find your niche, I would definitely recommend checking on the MyEngagement website. There is a full list of student organizations on campus, and I can guarantee you will find something that suits you.

Tell me anything else about yourself and/or NKU that you
want folks to know.

Transferring from a community college was intimidating. I
was afraid I wasn't going to be able to relate to many people especially
because I don't live on campus and wasn't a part of any huge organizations such as Greek life. However, I am so thankful for NKU and the opportunities it has given me. Regardless of those fears, I was able to find people that I could
connect and grow closer with to make my NKU experience more meaningful. I have grown so much personally, as a leader and an educator since first starting at NKU. My time here has been so valuable.