My name is Lili and I am a fellow MLE major with endorsements in ELA and social sciences. I love fashion, photography, and basically all things art related.

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My favorite book(s): The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): The Perks of Being Wallflower (maybe?) by Steven Chbosky

My favorite non-traditional texts: The show "Avatar the Last Airbender" and the movie Emma. (2020)

My name is Diamond Bibbie. I’m a student at Illinois University which I have been attending since my freshman year. I’m an education major. I have been passionate about wanting to be a teacher since I was a kid because I want to make a difference in the world. I'm a strong believer that the impact that a teacher has can never be erased.

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My favorite book(s): Mainly the Buford High Series 

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): Junie B. Jones

My favorite non-traditional texts: Movies, documentaries etc--mostly any forms of entertainment.

Hello, my name is Lyndsey Butler. I am a Middle Level Education major at Illinois State University. I am one out of ten siblings. My siblings and parents have helped shape my big heart for others.

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My favorite book(s): Home Body by Rupi Kaur, Pillow Thoughts Collection by Courtney Peppernell, The Bible

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): How the Grinch Stole Christmas

My favorite non-traditional texts: "The Big Bang Theory" and "The Choice"

Hi! My name is Ashley Coleman. I'm a junior at Illinois State.  I'm a middle school education major with endorsements in  ELA and Social Science. I'm from Harvey, IL and some hobbies that I like to do is doing hair, and making scarfs. I enjoy doing those things when I have some free time. I love to go shopping and spend time with family and friends. 

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My favorite book(s): The Great Gatsby, Twilight series, & Lord of the Flies

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): The Giver, Divergent, & Star Girl

My favorite non-traditional texts: Movies, documentaries, podcasts

Hi everyone! I am Olivia Duax, I'm from Downers Grove, Illinois. I have endorsements in ELA and Social Sciences. Outside of class I am a member of the cross country and track teams, which takes up a lot of my time. When I am not on the track or in the class room, you can find me curled up reading a good book, talking with family, or at movie nights with my friends!

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My favorite book(s): Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, Anxious People by Fredrik Backman, and anything by Agatha Christie(I love a good mystery)

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): Harry Potter (if you can find them second-hand), Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai, Dress Coded by Carrie Firestone, Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds, and many, many more

My favorite non-traditional texts: "Teaching While White" (a podcast), "Parks and Recreation" (TV Show), and The Princess Bride (Movie).

My name's Julianna, I'm turning 22 soon. I'm an individual of few words. I like cats and reading and tea.

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My favorite book(s): The Noble Dead series

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): I loved anything by Rick Riordan when I was a kid.

My favorite non-traditional texts: My favorite non-traditional texts would have to be documentaries. Would home improvement shows count? If they do, they're it. I love them.

I can't believe I am in the home stretch of school and before I know it, I'll be Miss James! I can't wait to get out there and teach the future!

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My favorite book(s): The Secrets You Keep and If I Tell You

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): Wonder and They Both Die In the End

My favorite non-traditional texts: The Blind Side, "True Crime," and "New Girl"

I am currently a junior at Illinois State, and my major is middle level education with endorsements in science, and English. I am from Chicago, Illinois and will still be here for our first week online. I transferred from Marquette University my freshman to continue studying education at ISU. Otherwise, my personal life is nothing too exciting, I work part time at McDonalds while in school and have a 5-month-old kitten named Oliver who can be a menace. 

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My favorite book(s): The Perks of Being a Wallflower

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): Hunger games, Divergent, and The Sisters Grimm

My favorite non-traditional texts: Any Marvel movie, and "Criminal Minds"

Hey everyone! My name is Madison and I am a junior here studying middle level ESL! I am a very energetic and bubbly person who loves to get to know new people! I also love traveling which is perfect because that is where I will be completing my student teaching March of 2023!

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My favorite book(s): The Catcher in the Rye & The Great Gatsby

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): Orbiting Jupiter & The Giver

My favorite non-traditional texts: Podcasts & documentaries

My name is Bode Nelson and I'm from Bourbonnais, IL. I'm a junior at ISU with endorsement areas in social studies and ELA.

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My favorite book(s): The Great Gatsby

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): The Lightning Thief

My favorite non-traditional texts: "The Joe Rogan Experience"

I love to shop and spend time with my friends and family. When I am not in class or working I am usually in my bed watching a show or a movie. I am a huge movie watcher.

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My favorite book(s): Shrill by Lindy West

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

My favorite non-traditional texts: I currently am really into true crime, so my favorite non traditional text is watching Kendall Rae on YouTube. I also love the podcast "My Favorite Murder."

My name is Savannah Stinnett. I am a 21 year old dog mom who loves warm weather and traveling. I am also super passionate about music and can play a few different instruments. Of course, I love to read in my spare time.

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My favorite book(s): The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides or literally anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher and The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

My favorite non-traditional texts: I love true-crime podcasts! My favorite right now is called "Morbid."

My favorite book(s): 

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): 

My favorite non-traditional texts: 

I have always wanted to be a teacher for as long as i can remember. Even playing "school" with my cousins and siblings, I was always the teacher. I grew up despising reading and writing, and well look at me now! I am a triplet (two boys) and no, we are not identical as cool (maybe weird) as that may be. I am a huge animal lover (being a mom to two cats and a dog). I am so excited to finally be in my last few teaching classes and finally get into the real world of teaching very soon!

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My favorite book(s): The Harry Potter series. I am obsessed.

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): Aristotle and Dante Discover the secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

My favorite non-traditional texts: Movies. I love all different kinds of movies, but historical or historically based movies are my favorite.

Hi! My name is Emma Boland and I am a junior here at ISU. I am a middle level ed major and my endorsements are in math and ELA. I transferred to ISU from a community college where I played JUCO softball for two years.

 

My favorite book(s): At the moment: The Hate U Give

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): The Hunger Games series

My favorite non-traditional texts: I love binge watching TV shows and listening to podcasts while I drive long distance!

I'm currently a senior at Illinois State University. My endorsement areas are L.A and social sciences. I'm excited to get my final semester of classes rolling and getting that much closer to becoming a teacher. (finally)

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My favorite book(s): The entire Percy Jackson series

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): Diary of a Wimpy Kid

My favorite non-traditional texts: Any show designed for people with adhd (Rick and morty, adventure time, etc.), and Barstool sports podcasts

Hello! My name is Lauren and my endorsements are English and Social Studies. I have known I was going to be a teacher and attend ISU since the 5th grade. I am from a small town about 45 minutes south of Normal which is near Champaign. I have a deep passion for music and I am a huge movie buff.

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My favorite book(s): The Outsiders, The Hate U Give, & The Great Gatsby

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): Divergent, The Maze Runner, & The Hunger Games

My favorite non-traditional texts: "Friends," Star Wars, Almost Famous

I am currently a junior at Illinois State University and majoring in middle level education. My endorsements are Mathematics and English. For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher.  I begin student teaching in Spring of 2023, and words cannot express how excited I am for that experience. I will always live by the motto that teachers learn from students as much as students learn from teachers, and I am so thrilled for the years to come where I will take part of that community.

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My favorite book(s): My all time favorite book is Colleen Hoover's, It Ends with Us

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): Wendelin Van Draanen's Flipped

My favorite non-traditional texts: Definitely any kind of movie with deep symbolism

My name is Melissa! My pronouns are she/her. I am from Elgin, IL. I love the outdoors, hiking, walking my dog, biking, playing basketball! I love spending time with my family and I look forward to my future as an educator!

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My favorite book(s): Like Water for Chocolate & A Wrinkle In Time

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): The Lightning Thief, Walk Two Moons, The Giver, El Deafo, & Front Desk

My favorite non-traditional texts: (Movies): Encanto, Coco, Instructions Not Included, & Under the Same Moon
(Documentaries): Disclosure -Netflix & 13th -Netflix

Hi my name is Kathleen Levins and I am a junior with my content areas being Social Science and Language Arts. I love to write anything, especially research papers and poetry. I am very passionate about mental health and equality across our schools. After several years of teaching, I’d love to work as an administrator in a school and work towards making our schools better from an admins point of view. I am also interested in possibly being a school social worker- we will see where I end up! I am super excited to finally get some clinical experiences and form relationships with other students and teachers.

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My favorite book(s): The Crank series by Ellen Hopkins and  The Giver by Lois Lowry

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): The Hunger Games series

My favorite non-traditional texts: "One Tree Hill" (TV Show)

Hello, my name is Nico Mirabelli, I'm from Park Ridge which is a northwest suburb or Chicago. I love to watch and play sports, and I also love to exercise. My desire to teach started when I began working with young adolescents when I was a sophomore in high school at after school programs and summer camps.

 

My favorite book(s): Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): The Tale of Despereaux, Percy Jackson Series, Hunger Games, & Lord of the Flies

My favorite non-traditional texts: "Last Chance U" (Netflix Documentary/Show)

Hi! My name is Taylor! My endorsements in the middle level are ELA and Social Studies. I am very excited to start this semester and especially looking forward to graduating at the end of the year. In my free time I enjoy reading and watching tv. I have two rescue cats who will probably make appearances on zoom at some point. I am looking forward to exploring young adolescent literature further this semester.

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My favorite book(s): The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid and any book by Colleen Hoover

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): Any book by Sarah Dessen and Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

My favorite non-traditional texts: Movie: Crazy, Stupid, Love TV show: "Friends" and "New Girl"

Hello, my name is Alison I am from the Chicago suburbs and enjoy working out and spending time with friends. I have known I wanted to be a teacher my whole life so I am very excited to be graduating soon.

 

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s):  The Outsiders, The Harry Potter series and The Hunger Games

My favorite non-traditional texts: "The Office," "Shameless" and "That 70s Show"

During my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. A hobby of mine is playing and watching sports, my favorite sports to play are basketball and softball. Occasionally when I get bored, I do jigsaw puzzles. A future goal of mine is to travel the United States, I enjoy season changes, but summer is my favorite season. And finally, my favorite type of music is Country music.

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My favorite book(s): My favorite book when I was younger had to be either the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series or Love You Forever book

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): That’s Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger

My favorite non-traditional texts: Friday Night Lights, Friends, Billy Madison

Hi everyone! My name is Livi and my endorsements are in English/Language Arts, Social Sciences, and English Language Learners. Some fun facts about me are that my first language is Polish, I work a lot with local politics, and my dream job (apart from teaching) would be to drive the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.

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My favorite book(s) AND My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s):  I absolutely love the Percy Jackson series and could talk about it forever. 

My favorite non-traditional texts: My favorite non-traditional texts are documentaries!

Hi, my name is Crystal Destiny Vale. I am 22 years old and I live in one of the many Chicago suburbs. This is my second year at ISU after transferring from a different university in Chicago. I am a very chill, goofy, and independent person. My favorite things include: watching movies, going out, and playing with my dog. I think my characteristics are what will eventually make me a great teacher. I care deeply for people and always do my best to make sure that they are doing well. 

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My favorite book(s): The Sun and Her Flowers, Every Last Word, & The Impossible Knife of Memory

My favorite adolescent or young adult book(s): The Hunger Games series, Wintergirls, & Paper Towns

My favorite non-traditional texts: Movies - Insidious, Grown Ups, & Annabelle

TV shows - "The Office," "Parks & Rec," & "You"