By Kristin Hornsby

When she first considered transferring to Thomas More University, Jordyn Niemeier had the same questions many students have when contemplating change. Would she fit in? Would she feel welcomed? Would Thomas More be the right place for her?

Today, those questions have been replaced with a strong sense of belonging.

“I was nervous myself,” she said. “I thought they won’t like me, or I won’t fit in. Yet everyone has been so open minded and nice. I feel like I really do belong here.”

Her journey began at Gateway Community and Technical College. There, she built a foundation through general education and introductory education coursework that helped her better understand herself as a student and future teacher.

Her path ultimately led her to Thomas More, where she is now pursuing Elementary Education and continuing to build on what she’s learned along the way.

Finding Her Own Path

During her senior year, Jordyn wasn’t sure where she wanted to attend college. She initially applied to Thomas More, but ultimately chose to attend Gateway, in part because of her job and to have time to consider her next steps.

That experience laid the foundation for what came next.

At Gateway, she completed general education courses while beginning to explore education more deeply. Her coursework introduced her to preschool classrooms and gave her the opportunity to observe young children in an educational setting. “I learned a lot about myself and how I would want a classroom to be ran,” she reflects.

Taking the Next Step

Thomas More remained on her mind during her time at Gateway, and she applied to transfer, “because I was seeing and hearing how much fun my friend was having in her classes.”

The transfer process itself was straightforward. She had her transcript sent over and relied on the website to understand the steps involved.  She also found support from Thomas More staff, who she describes as “very nice” and available to answer questions and help her navigate the process.

Building on Her Education Foundation

At Thomas More, Jordyn’s previous experiences have become a foundation for deeper learning in the Elementary Education program.

The classroom observations and education coursework she completed at Gateway gave her an early look at the teaching profession. At Thomas More, she has been able to expand on those experiences while developing a clearer vision for the classroom she hopes to create.

Her coursework has encouraged her to think critically about how she wants to teach and how she can apply what she learns to the students she will eventually serve.

“A lot of my classes and professors stand out to me,” she said. “Everything is always so engaging and the ideas that we see as a class allow me to better understand how I can apply my knowledge and my peers’ ideas to my future classroom.”

She appreciates that Thomas More’s education courses allow students to focus their learning on the age range they hope to teach. While students preparing to teach at different levels may learn alongside one another, assignments and discussions allow them to consider how those concepts apply to their own future classrooms. For her, the connection between coursework and career has made the experience especially meaningful.

Finding Her Community

Jordyn’s academic experience has been complemented by a growing sense of community at Thomas More. She admits that while at Gateway she went to class, went to work, and then did her homework.

At Thomas More, she’s met students who she’s found community with, and she appreciates the opportunities provided to build relationships with them. That sense of connection has helped ease the uncertainty she initially felt as a transfer student. The welcoming environment she found at Thomas More has also reinforced the kind of environment she hopes to create as a teacher.

Imagining More for the Future

As she looks ahead to her career in elementary education, Jordyn is most excited about the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of her future students.

“I think I am most excited for getting my foot in the door and attempting to help these students find a safe place in my room,” she says. “I just want to be a positive voice and face my students see every day.”

Her experiences at both Gateway and Thomas More are helping shape that vision. And along the way, she has discovered something she wasn’t sure she would find when she transferred: a place where she belongs. And that’s what she hopes to do for others, to help them know they, too, belong.