Dutchmen Feature: Lauren MacAvoy ’22

Lauren MacAvoy '22

Bailey Thumm ’22, Staff Writer

Lauren MacAvoy, a junior early childhood and special education double major, discussed how the current pandemic is affecting her college and future career.

MacAvoy does not think COVID-19 is going to delay her degree because the education department has been very flexible.

“Specifically, my professors are always saying as teachers we need to be adaptable and we always need to be willing to change everything that is happening because as a teacher you really never know what to expect,” MacAvoy said.

“I think, as a teacher, knowing that this is something that could also happen in the future—no experience is a shortcoming,” MacAvoy said. “Because I might be a teacher one day and there could be something similar to this pandemic or maybe even something worse and knowing how to handle that situation would be very valuable to me”.

MacAvoy said the education department is counting shadowing hours done over Zoom. This semester MacAvoy is working outside of the classroom for her host teacher by collecting needed materials and sending them via email each week.

“For example, last week I spent time finding different websites and apps that the students could use either in the classroom or at home, depending on their COVID situation,” MacAvoy said. “My responsibility was to test everything out and make sure it was first user friendly, but also something that would get the kids engaged.”

“They are doing their best to still allow us to create those relationships with our host teachers,” MacAvoy said.

MacAvoy’s current goal career is to earn her Bachelor’s, become an elementary teacher, then go back and get her Master’s in psychology counseling.

“I would eventually like to become a guidance counselor. I really like the idea of having a 1:1 relationship with students versus a 20:1,” MacAvoy said.

Next week, the junior education majors will be receiving their placements for next semester, which is the same place they will teach full-time senior year.