Hartwick college

Why Hartwick?
The small class size at Hartwick immediately attracted me, as I knew I could make a difference and feel at home in all of my classes, particularly in my own major. Many other schools with a Music Education major have extremely large programs, and this discouraged me, as I didn't feel like I would be noticed by the professors. When I found Hartwick, I immediately knew that I would be able to excel in my own program, and this is exactly what I have done. I believe that others should choose Hartwick because they will be able to make a difference and excel in their own specific way, because of our small class size and extremely welcoming community.

What are your classes like?
My classes are all really fun, definitely more engaging than my high school classes. In each and every class, you are doing some sort of hands-on activity that will prepare you for the future that lies ahead of you. For example, for my Education 304 course, we were each assigned kindergarten buddies, and we taught a series of lessons to these students without immediate assistance from our professor. This helped us learn how to craft our own lessons that worked for the specific students, and I feel that it was an extremely useful experience for all of the students in our class.

What does "theory into practice" mean to you?
In most classes at Hartwick, you learn the specific "theories" first, and this knowledge helps you to put these into practice in "real-life" situations, such as teaching in a classroom.

How have your professors made an impact on your education?
Every single one of the Music faculty has made a difference in my career at Hartwick, specifically Dr. Joseph Abramo, Assistant Professor in Music Education. Dr. Abramo came to Hartwick at the beginning of my sophomore year, and ever since then, he has been my go-to resource for absolutely anything that I need. Dr. Abramo is always available to discuss or review any assignments, whether they are for his academic classes or not. He has been the ultimate resource for me, and I am extremely grateful to have him at Hartwick.

What do you do outside the classroom?
I played on the women's tennis team for my freshmen and sophomore years. I am a Blue Key Tour Guide, Peer Leader, Orientation Leader, and past treasurer and current president of the Hartwick Music Educators' Club. Being involved in all of these activities has really shaped me and made my experience at Hartwick so much more positive, and I am grateful that they are part of my career. A lot of the music majors and I joke about how we live in Anderson, as I am there 90 percent of the time. Aside from being in class or practicing in Anderson, we have a seminar room and a technology lab where many of the majors hang out and do homework. We're all like a big family in Anderson, and I love it. It makes getting homework done just a little more fun.

How do you describe Hartwick to your friends back home?
Hartwick is a very inviting place, with a small community of extremely welcoming people. As I go to a smaller school, many of my friends are surprised to hear that when I walk around campus, I can say hi to about 95 percent or more of the people I see. They also love that we have one dining hall, as you see so many people you know during each and every meal, and this becomes part of the life as a student at Hartwick.

What comes after Hartwick?
I plan to attend graduate school. I'm not exactly sure what my major will be, but it will definitely be in the field of education, either music education, or elementary education. Maybe both! I will also look for teaching jobs, in hopes of attending graduate school and teaching at the same time.

What would you tell future Hartwick students?
New Hartwick students should make the best out of their four year journey, as it goes so much faster than they would ever expect it to. Be involved in everything that you can possibly can, to an extent of course, and meet as many people as you can. This will help to shape you as a person, and make your college career so worthwhile.