Getting to Know You: Daniel Soderquist
Daniel Soderquist – Elementary Education
Year in school: Junior
Why are you studying Elementary Education? What do you hope to do with it after you graduate?
Growing up, education seemed to be the last thing I would ever want to do with my life. With weeknights filled with classroom prep and weekends filled with grading, education was something I had felt I would never escape. As I got older, I would have my heart do a 180 while being a camp counselor at Camp Spalding. During that week, one of the students in my cabin expressed how his dad left, and that leaving us felt like that. When hearing this, I realized the impact someone can have on children in this age group. With this new mindset, experience in the classroom from my parents, classes taken in high school, and the decision to come to WSU, Elementary Education seemed like a no-brainer when deciding my major.
Why did you choose WSU?
Throughout my life, I have always been a Coug. From both my mom and brother going to WSU, my passion for WSU was my dominant trait- so much so, in my freshman algebra class in high school, I would always write #GoCougs on my assignments and whiteboards whenever I would conduct work on them. I have always felt that WSU is my home away from home, so when my decision between Western, Whitworth and WSU came, my heart had already made the decision.
What’s been your favorite part of the WSU experience thus far?
I LOVE the campus, the people, and the pride WSU carries. I feel l have made several solid friends in these couple of years and have had an awesome experience in Greek Life and my classes. My professors have been outstanding! I keep hearing from my friends at other schools talk about their one bad professor they get every quarter or semester and frankly, I haven’t had an average one yet.
What’s been the biggest challenge so far?
My freshman year. One of my good friends passed away from suicide. This was one of my first friends I had ever lost and it shocked me and hurt. From good friends in my fraternity and family friends, I have been able to get back on my feet from this tragedy. In the last year, I have become the mental health chair of my fraternity, and have worked hard to spread mental health awareness in my life.
As a college, we’re focusing more on our people being agents of change. What makes you an agent of change?
I feel I have solid perspectives on working with many people throughout our community and world, with mission trips in Tijuana, Mexico, the death of one of my friends with a mental illness, and the trials of COVID. I feel that I can bring agents of empathy and education to our broken world.
Favorites
Food: Burritos
Restaurant in Pullman: South Fork and Taqueria Chaparrito
Band/singer: Mac Miller
Song: Magic in the Hamptons by Social House
Movie: Batman – The Dark Knight Rises
TV show: Breaking Bad
Coug sport: Football and basketball
Hobby: Skiing
Vacation spot: Helena, Montana
Dream vacation spot: the Alps