A Graduate School Journey's End

My Science Methods Family!

Some of the Teton Science Schools Graduates

It is crazy to believe that after deciding to give up the complacency of having a job, having some feeling of settlement, and a huge family and community of friends surrounding you, the decision of journeying back to school for graduate school has come to an end. For the past two years, I have learned so much about myself on so many intimate, personal, emotional, and physical levels. I have met a variety of people, co-workers, faculty, fellow grads, classmates, and students that have helped shape who I am, what I want to be, where I want to be, and what I want to be doing with my life. The feelings I have experienced  to go back to school has been all across the spectrum, but I think no matter the outcome of situations, opportunities, and encounters, I believe they were all incredibly beneficial on the growth I have had within myself.

This morning, my parents and Marc were able to watch me cross the stage at UWyoming's College of Education and be hooded for my successes and hard work for my Masters of Science in Natural Science Education. I have never felt so proud of myself for biting the bullet and completely focusing on this goal (even when there were days I would sit on my couch in tears thinking this would not be possible). And when I thought that my year with the Teton Science Schools had gone by fast, the past 9-months in Laramie, WY have gone by much faster. 

I am incredibly excited and slightly terrified about what my future has in store for me. But I am confident that I can take what I have learned and experienced the past two years and morph and adapt to whatever comes my way. 

TheChristyBel

Being Hooded By My Chair, Dr. Andrea Burrows!

Some of the Most Wonderful Friends
to Have During Your Graduate School Journey!

Marc & I
Incredibly Happy to Finally Be a Master!

I Wouldn't Be Here Without Her
My Chair, Dr. Andrea Burrows

One of My Strong Support Systems
Dr. Ana Houseal

Of Course, a Graduation Summit Pose!
In Front of the Dinosaur!

I am soooooo Thankful for My Parents to be Here!

A Natural Science Master

As of 3:00pm MST today, I shook the hand of my committee chair, Dr. Andrea Burrows, and was congratulated by my committee on successfully passing my Masters of Science in Natural Science Defense Presentation.

Presenting my findings and work on STEM Integration with Art: A Renewed Reason for STEAM to my committee, SMTC colleagues, and friends was really terrifying and nerve-wrecking. Not only was this defense nerve-wrecking to present, but I was the first of my cohort that came here to UW to present. Such pressure! Let me just say, I was more anxious presenting for 45-minutes than performing in front of thousands of audience members in the University of Dayton arena! I'm ridiculous, I know. 

However, I have never felt more proud and accomplished of myself. It was a very challenging experience and journey, but I am so grateful for the knowledge and experience I have gained from this project I had the opportunity to work on. I am truly grateful for the guidance of my committee, their insight and feedback, and their willingness to make me feel supported no matter what. This project has also blossomed more questions and a desire to learn more about how the arts can influence and affect the sciences. If only there was more time...

...just no more writing, please! :)

My graduate school journey is slowly coming to the close and the two last things that I need to do are: 1.) edit and turn in my final paper and 2.) trim it down, again, to submit to a journal!

What a Ride!

Thank you!

TheChristyBel

My Supportive Committee
(From Left to Right: Dr. Adam Myers, Dr. Andrea Burrows, theChristyBel, Wendy Bredehoft)
Missing Dr. Joy Johnson
Photo Credit: Ana Houseal

Celebrating with My Science Methods Family!
Couldn't have asked for a better group to celebrate this wonderful moment with!