- Pronouns:
- they/them/theirs
- Major:
- Secondary Social Studies Education
- Minor/Concentration:
- Education Policy
- Graduation year:
- 2025
- Hometown:
- Plainfield, IN
- Interests/hobbies:
- Crochet, embroidery, sewing, and being a nerd with friends
Q&A with Matthias
How has INSPIRE or the School of Education helped you grow as a future teacher?
Inspire has helped me grow as a future teacher because I’ve learned what it takes to create an atmosphere in which people feel comfortable being themselves. It’s made me more passionate about making my classroom a safe place for all of my students and to appreciate and understand all of our individual differences. I used to view teaching as just a job, but this community has made me excited about teaching and positively impacting others.
What has been your favorite experience as a member of the INSPIRE LLC so far?
My favorite experience as a member of the INSPIRE LLC so far has been making incredible friends and getting to live with people who are interested in a lot of the same things that I am. Without INSPIRE, I would have had a much harder and lonelier freshman year, but here I know I’m with people who genuinely care about the people they’re living with.
What influenced your decision to become a Peer Mentor?
In the first few weeks of my freshman year, I immediately felt very welcomed into the community, even though I didn’t know anybody or really anything about IU in general. College is a huge and often difficult adjustment, but the previous Peer Mentors helped me get to know campus and feel appreciated. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the LLC, and I knew that I wanted to continue living in and creating this home for others as a Peer Mentor.
Ask yourself what you want in your college experience. If you’re concerned about making friends or are looking for a community where people genuinely care for each other, then definitely join. Even if you feel unsure about being a teacher, it’s a great place to learn more about yourself and what you want in your education and future career.
What are some responsibilities you have as a Peer Mentor?
Some of the biggest responsibilities I have as a Peer Mentor is to help the freshmen adjust to college, create a place where everyone feels safe and welcome, and to preserve this atmosphere. We answer questions about college life and courses that we’ve taken, we are a friendly face, and we are a shoulder to lean on or someone to celebrate good news with. We also create and host at least two floor events every semester in which we cover topics related to teaching and learn how to make our classrooms more inclusive.
Do you have any advice for anyone who might be thinking about applying to INSPIRE?
My advice for anyone thinking about applying to INSPIRE would be to ask yourself what you want in your college experience. If you’re concerned about making friends or are looking for a community where people genuinely care for each other, then definitely join. Even if you feel unsure about being a teacher, it’s a great place to learn more about yourself and what you want in your education and future career.
What would you say to someone considering joining INSPIRE?
If you’re interested in joining INSPIRE, I highly recommend it! It’s a great place to express yourself freely and be celebrated for who you are. I’ve never had a community quite like INSPIRE, and I want to continue creating this type of community wherever I go in life.