Wartburg has what it takes for you to be successful
NAME: Julie Lenth
CLASS YEAR: 2022
HOMETOWN: Luana, Iowa
MAJORS: Secondary Spanish education with a K-12 ESL endorsement
INVOVLEMENT ON CAMPUS: Student Senate, Wartburg College Dance Marathon, Outfly Committee, Ambassadors
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WARTBURG: Wartburg’s small campus and small class sizes made the adjustment from high school to college a lot more comfortable for me. It felt like home for me! It also has a great sense of community and takes pride in all of its students. Wartburg has what it takes for you to be successful!
HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON YOUR MAJOR: I came to Wartburg originally studying accounting and Spanish. I have always had a passion for Spanishand knew I wanted to incorporate it into my future. I loved studying accounting, but it was after my May Term trip to Denver, Colo., in 2019, that solidified my passion for not only Spanish but working with and helping people. During my time there, I worked with individuals at an ESL nonprofit called Mi Casa. After having amazing conversations with these individuals who were so passionate about learning, I knew I wanted to build my career working with others and helping them achieve their dreams. After my experience in Denver, I immediately called my Spanish adviser, Zak Montgomery, and told him I wanted to switch to education. Starting that fall I became a Spanish education major, and I have been happy ever since!
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUATION: I’ve accepted a job teaching Spanish and Talented and Gifted (TAG) students at Allamakee Community School District in Waukon. In this position, I will be teaching 8th grade exploratory Spanish, Spanish II, and middle school and high school TAG.
HOW HAS WARTBURG SET YOU UP FOR SUCCESS IN YOUR FIELD: As someone who changed majors during the summer before their second year, Wartburg put me into education classes and field experiences right away to get me into the teaching field. Wartburg’s small environment and faculty have also helped me connect with so many amazing students and exceptional professionals, where I felt like I could be myself and really thrive. I constantly felt supported by my friends and professors. It is important to feel supported when you are choosing a career path, especially as someone who decided to switch after a life-changing experience in May Term!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIELD EXPERIENCES AND STUDENT TEACHING: I started my first field experience at Holmes Jr. High with Sara Blanco. I had such an amazing time with her, this truly solidified my decision to switch my major to Spanish education! I had some great field experiences along the way in a special education classroom at Cedar Heights Elementary and a language arts experience at Nashua-Plainfield High School.
I started my student-teaching journey at Hampton-Dumont High School teaching Spanish II through Spanish IV. I really enjoyed working with this district and really felt like I was part of the community. Hampton is a very small yet diverse town. I learned so much from my students and cooperative teacher, Sue Guffey, about flexibility and adaptability of lessons to accommodate the learning needs of the diverse student body. I learned a lot about the standards and how to set measurable objectives for the students!
I finished my student-teaching experience at Waverly-Shell Rock High School teaching Spanish I and Spanish II. I learned so much about social-emotional learning and multi-tier systems of support for students. I sat in on a 9th grade care team that not only looked at students’ grades but their behavior to determine specific intervention strategies for them. I also learned a lot more about parent/student communication and how to manage a healthy work/life balance. Lastly, I learned how to form long-lasting bonds with coworkers and students from my amazing cooperating teacher, Simone Sundblad. I am forever grateful for my experience at WSR!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS: I enjoyed a lot of my classes at Wartburg. In fact, there are no classes that come to my mind that I absolutely dreaded! What helps is that all the professors are passionate about what they teach. My favorite class, however, would be my Denver, Colo., immersion class in May 2019. I explored so many different sites and learned so much about myself during and after this trip! I enjoyed all my May Term classes at Wartburg, but this immersion was an experience like no other.
ANY ADVICE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS: My advice for prospective students is to get involved in as many organizations, intramurals, clubs, or events as you can! Get to know as many people as you can at Wartburg and be yourself! Keep your door open freshman year and meet new people, and don’t be afraid to be yourself and talk to people. You will experience the most growth in your life during your college years, and Wartburg does a great job challenging and nurturing you along the way. You should be open for change and expect growth not only socially and professionally, but emotionally and spiritually as well.
WHY IS WARTBURG WORTH IT: Wartburg’s sense of community matches no other. Wartburg has professors who genuinely care about their students’ success and who are passionate about what they teach. The small class sizes allow for an optimal learning environment. Wartburg has a lot of great organizations that help students stay involved in campus. I met my best friends at Wartburg and grew as a professional individual. Wartburg helped me find my vocation and something that I am very passionate about pursuing. Wartburg is SO WORTH IT!