Hi my name is Kelsey Hegel and I'm a fifth
grade teacher
in a small parish outside of New Orleans,
Louisiana.
And I chose to come to Boise State because
I did a lot of research on what tech program
would be the best for me
and for what I wanted to be when I graduated
and Boise ranked among the top.
So, it wasn't a difficult choice,
knowing that it was all online,
and seeing the different reviews
from other students who have gone through
the program.
It was a no-brainer to come and enter Boise
and this online program.
But I have had some "ah-ha" moments.
I think my "ah-ha" moment, my biggest one
is how far the Educational Technology reach
goes.
It's not just about education, it's about
learning.
And no matter what career you're in, you have
to remain up on the tech.
You have to remain in the learning environment.
You have to stay knowledgeable and up-to-date.
So, I think that was a really big part of
my takeaway, was just how far this program
can reach, knowing that we have to constantly
educate ourselves in order to become the best
or to become better and continue to adapt.
And, I think that the factors that helped
me survive, knowing how far it reaches, are
my peers.
Just knowing that I have peers that could
support me and are going through the same
thing made this program a lot more bearable
because it got heavy at times.
And knowing that my classmates were doing
it and pushing through, some of them with
two, three jobs, from all over the world,
it was really inspiring.
And having professors that were willing to
take our feedback, but give really quality,
constructive feedback.
I am somebody who thrives on knowing that
I could have done something better and pushing
myself to be that.
So, I think that will meld into my career
plans for the future, which would be to be
a technology facilitator within my school
district.
We have technology facilitators that bounce
from school to school and teach teachers.
And I think I am ready to get out of the classroom,
but stay in it in kind of a detached way.
So, go in and show teachers, look there is
a better program for that and there is other
ways to do it.
And to just really be that person that they
can rely on like I was able to rely on my
professors and my peers throughout my learning
process.
So it enables them to learn through me.
