Getting to Know You: Dennis Smith
Dennis Smith – Master in Teaching
Year in school: Graduate
Why are you studying this? What do you hope to do after your graduation?
I am studying education at WSU Spokane because I have a passion for history and want to spread my love of the subject to the next generation of students. I hope to use my degree to teach secondary history, ideally in a high school.
Why did you choose WSU?
I chose WSU because it is affordable, but with a great program that focuses on social justice. Additionally, the faculty was very responsive and helpful during the application and admissions process. I chose WSU Spokane because I recently moved to Spokane before deciding to apply to graduate school.
What’s been your favorite part of the WSU experience thus far?
So far, my favorite part of the WSU experience has been getting to know my cohort. Although we started our sequence with online classes, we have gotten to know each other really well over the summer. It has been really nice to develop a group of friends who are all going through the same struggles and triumphs that I am in school.
What’s the biggest challenge been so far?
The biggest challenge has definitely been re-adjusting to academia. I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in 2016, and had been out of school for five years before starting this program at WSU. I had forgotten how much reading and work these classes can require! With that being said, it has definitely been worth it as I have been learning a lot and am certainly getting great preparation for teaching.
As a college, we’re starting to focus more on our people being agents of change. What makes you an agent of change?
I think I am an agent of change because of my focus on bettering the lives of the youth, who will be the future voters and leaders of our society. I want to become a teacher to help students understand critical thinking and source evaluation, making them better equipped for civic participation in their futures and leading to a better and more equitable society. Additionally, I work at a youth homeless shelter in downtown Spokane. Homelessness is a huge issue in Spokane and in many cities across the country. I am happy to help provide shelter and services to youth experiencing homelessness, and hopefully help them find stable housing in the future.
Favorites
Food: Tacos (Cochinito is amazing)
Book: A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn
Band: Run the Jewels
Song: Don’t Get Captured by Run the Jewels
Movie: The Godfather
TV Show: BoJack Horseman
Hobby: Videogames
Vacation: Torino, Italy
Dream vacation spot: Danang, Vietnam