Getting to Know You: Makenzie Hamilton
Makenzie Hamilton – Elementary Education
Year in school: Senior
Hometown: Richland, Washington
What are you studying?
Elementary Education with a minor in At-Risk Youth
Why are you studying Elementary Education? What do you hope to do with this after you graduate?
I’ve always loved helping people and working with kids, so teaching has always interested me. My senior year of high school, I had an internship in a first grade classroom and after the first day, I knew I was meant to be a teacher. I hope to work in a Title 1 school and give help to the kids who need it most.
Why did you choose WSU?
My dad is an alumni, so I grew up going to Cougar football games. I always loved Pullman and from a young age it felt like home to me.
What’s been your favorite part of the WSU experience thus far?
Getting accepted into the education program and learning how to become the best teacher possible! As well as meeting so many amazing people in the program who all share the same love for education as I do.
What’s been the biggest challenge so far?
Accepting the fact that I lost a year of a normal college experience from COVID.
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 speak for everyone when saying at some point we’ve had a teacher who made us hate school. I never want to be that for my feature students. I’m learning every day how to make my future classroom a safe and equitable environment for all and I have made it my goal to never stop growing and educating myself on how to do so.
Favorites
Restaurant in Pullman: Sella’s
Book: The War That Saved My Life
Song: Favorite Crime by Olivia Rodrigo
Movie: Frozen 2
TV show: Friends
Place to visit: Cannon Beach, Oregon
Dream vacation spot: Bora Bora