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T aylor Casey

From: LaGrange, Georgia.

Major: Special Education

Why that major: When starting, I knew I had a heart for service and helping people and kids. This is what led me to teach! I was an early childhood education major and a middle grades education major, before going into special education. To say I didn't know who I wanted to teach was an understatement. Finally, I attended a major/career fair where I went to the College of Education table and talked to a special education professor who happened to be Dr. Grimes. She doesn't know this, but I wholeheartedly credit her to being a special education major today. She told me all about special education, explained to me what students I would teach and made me fall in love with it. I changed my major to special education the next day. I never turned back on that decision and am so grateful I didn’t.

Why Georgia College: I was looking for a college that was the right size for me and not too far from home. When touring here, I also heard about the phenomenal education program Georgia College offered. I decided it would be a fun new adventure for me to come here and create new friends, relationships and experiences. I wouldn’t change the decision I made for anything in the world. Being a part of a campus where I can see new people and old friends every single day has stolen my heart. I have been a part of many organizations, classes and friend groups that have changed my life for the better in so many ways. The close-knit feeling of this campus has made my experience here personal and life-changing.

Activities: I’m part of the Council of Exceptional Children through the Special Education cohort. We raise money and supplies for local schools. I’ve held multiple leadership positions in my sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha. I served as a Think Pink Chairman (service chair for ZTA philanthropy, Breast Cancer Education and Awareness), our Family Relations Chairman and Recording Secretary.

Student Teaching Internship: A.P.P.L.E. stands for Adapted Purposeful Personalized Learning Experiences. This is the term my partner teacher and I used to describe our class in my student teaching internship. This class has sixth- to eighth-grade students with exceptionalities. For my service-learning project, I created a learning service experience that helped fill an authentic need in the community. Our students are very hands-on learners so we knew the service project would have to be hands-on and give quick results. I was placed in Putnam County Middle School, so we partnered with the Butterfly Garden in Eatonton. Our project was planting flowers, but it also included research, learning and community service. My students were excited and happy to be outside. We planted in 10- to 15-minute shifts with plenty of breaks, so the students could run and explore. They learned about pollinators and different habitats and the importance of taking care of our environment.

Biggest accomplishment: My biggest accomplishment in college has to be the relationships I've created while here. I have so many more friendships, professional relationships and mentors than I could ever have imagined. These people have given me advice, taught me life skills and experienced important lessons with me. The people I’ve known through Georgia College prove to be my biggest accomplishment every single day.

Favorite Professor: My favorite and most noteworthy professor by far has to be Dr. Rob Sumowski. I cannot begin to say enough great things about this professor. He is my cohort leader, mentor and biggest cheerleader. He has taught me countless real-world and special education lessons and shared the craziest education stories I've ever heard. He knows exactly what to say and when to say it and seems to know the answer to everything. He's calmed all 15 of my cohort members' nerves many times and will always remind us to enjoy life no matter what. Dr. Sumowski has shown me what it means to be a great teacher, leader and friend. I've learned more in two years from him than I thought possible—whether it be about special education or life in general. He’s an awesome “dude” and will definitely be a mentor for me for all my life.

Fondest memory: My time living in the ZTA sorority house was a fun year! I have very fond memories of Greek Weekend, homecoming, tent city and my first Deep Roots Festival. But I also have to include countless hours of junior- and senior-year placements through the special education cohort. I learned to be inclusive and accepting. I learned to become an advocate. I learned what to do and what not to do. I learned that I love middle schoolers. These placements have made me the teacher I am today.

Advice for first-year students: The biggest advice I could give is to follow your heart and dig deep. The person you are when you choose your major as a senior in high school is not the person you have to remain. Don't be afraid of change. You will learn so much about yourself, others and life.

Key to success: The key to success in college is balance. Be well-rounded through schoolwork, involvement in the community and stay active in your social life and organizations. College offers so many new things. Being able to balance all of them, while taking time to learn about yourself, is crucial.

Future plans: I’ve accepted a job at Richmond Hill Middle School as a 6th-grade ELA ESS (exceptional student services) teacher. This means I’ll work alongside a general education co-teacher and serve students with differing abilities in an inclusive environment. I’ve also been admitted to the Special Education M.Ed program here at Georgia College.

How Georgia College helped: GCSU provided the environment and community needed to push me toward my goals and dreams. I’ve been involved in an inclusive and diverse environment since I stepped foot on campus. GCSU gave me real-world experiences—such as my student teaching internship—that showed me the kind of person and teacher I want to be. Georgia College also helped me develop many skills I didn't know I had, like leadership and communication. GCSU helped me cultivate my passion in life and create plans for a future career that will be successful. My education and experiences at Georgia College have proven to me I’m ready for my future and can be successful in any path I take.