What’s your name, major and hometown?

My name is Leah Jackson, and I am from Dallas, Texas.

What would be the most useful thing for me to know about you as a student?

I really enjoy contributing to class discussion, but sometimes I shy away from it, so encourage me to talk! I also love getting to know my professors, and I learn best through taking hand-written notes.

What do you wish was different about school?

There are high expectations for young professionals and their college experience. Students are pressured to be involved in everything they can be, make the best grades, create connections, and assume leadership positions. With the excessive homework and reading that we are assigned, it is extremely difficult to maintain a healthy, stress-free lifestyle while in college. Ultimately, I wish the work load was lighter.

Describe a moment in school last year when you felt really engaged. Why do you think that moment was such a positive one for you?

There were several times that I felt really engaged in the class Media in Society, taught by Pamela Nettleton. I have such a fond memory of her lectures, and I have retained a significant amount of the information that I learned in her class because of the way she related each lecture to us as people in society. She incorporated videos that captured my attention, and the material that we wrote about in our essays were interesting and seemed relevant.

What do you think teachers think about you, and what do you wish they’d think about you?

Teachers might think of me as a hard-working student, but on the quieter side and not necessarily excited about academics. In reality, I am pretty loud and outgoing, and I love school. I guess I wish they knew a little bit of that side of me too because I don’t work hard just to make good grades; I enjoy learning too!

Tell me about a teacher who you feel knew you well. What kind of student were you in his or her class? What did he or she do to get to know you?

During my first semester at Marquette, I took an English course. My professor, Dr. Curran, was very smart and passionate about english literature. This subject was not my forte, so I attended his office hours for assistance on major essays regularly. Instead of just giving me a guide on how to write my essay, he would assess my strengths and weaknesses and ask questions challenging my ideas. He clearly did not just want me to suceed on a paper, but as a student in all areas and subjects, and he got to know me and my personality. During class, I didn’t contribute as much because I often didn’t feel confident in my input, but he encouraged me to do so after learning about my personality.

If you could build a school, what would it look like?

The campus of the school would have as many outdoor seating and study areas as possible. I prefer traditional architecture over modern, and it would have 2 stories. The building structure would form a rectangle, with a large courtyard in the middle and outdoor balconies lining the second floor. It would be cool for the school to be surrounded by trees and have areas for outdoor classrooms as well. The outside walls would be red brick, like an old school-house, and there would definitely be a bell tower.

What do you wish I would ask you so that I can be a good teacher for you?

You could ask me about my career interests and other irrelevant interests because I really like to find connections with people. It makes me feel like I know them better, and I feel like I learn better from people that I know and that know me. Some professors disconnect themselves from their students as much as possible, and I totally understand and respect that. However, for me, it isn’t as effective to learn from a stranger!

What makes a weekend day great for you?

If I could be, I would be outside all day every day. A great weekend day for me would start with going for a run early in the morning and end with watching the sunset with friends. During the day, I would explore a new area and new restaurants or go to a baseball game or hang my Eno, read, and drink coffee. The goal is to be so exhausted by night because I have worn myself out from doing so much during the day.

What is your favorite song right now and why? Embed a YouTube video of the song below:

To be honest, I was going to try to find another song because this one might raise and eyebrow, but I decided that if I did, I would be lying about what my favorite song is, and ultimately, I would be covering up the kind of person that I am. This is a Christian worship song by my favorite band, Mosaic. I love this song because it talks about how we can experience the love of Jesus all over the world, and it is so catchy. Everytime I hear it, I feel like I am at a pop concert for Jesus, and it brings me so much joy because I love Jesus. I can’t tell you how many times I blasted this song in my car over Christmas break; it’s my jam.

Anything else to add?

I have heard awesome things about this class, so I am super excited for the semester!

Finally, include a photo of yourself in your Medium post so I can start putting faces to names.