Scholarships helping CEHS student do great things in the world
Future teacher Megan Gronewold says time in Peru taught her a lot about education – and herself.
“Kids don’t care what you know until they know that you care.”
This is Megan Gronewold’s philosophy on teaching.
Megan, a senior at UNL who is studying child, youth and family studies, has gone to great lengths to live by this motto. She traveled more than 4,000 miles to complete a service-learning project in Cusco, Peru. While there, she spent two months volunteering in a Spanish-speaking classroom helping first- through 12th-grade students.
“I got to see just completely different educational systems and how they work and just really became appreciative of the education I’ve received, too,” she said.
Megan also gives back at home. She works as a mentor for the Nebraska Human Resource Institute. This program selects UNL students who are identified as having the ability and desire to impact society. These college students work with one another to develop their strengths and are then paired up with first- through twelfth-grade students in the Lincoln area.
“It’s kind of this reinvestment model where we invest in them, they want to invest in others, and it’s just a ripple effect,” she said. “And so we can impact a huge number of people.”
Megan was able to help others because of the help she received from scholarships through the College of Education and Human Sciences. The financial support she was awarded allowed her to take time away from work so that she could participate in these activities. Megan believes her philanthropic experiences will aid her in her future career.
“I’ve learned so much about myself through those things that it enhances my ability to just love others in my place of employment or love others where I’m at,” Megan said. “I guess that pours into me which allows me to pour out into others.”
Megan is currently student teaching at the Ruth Staples Child Development Lab. Located on UNL’s East Campus, The lab offers full day child-care services in which university students help to plan, implement and evaluate activities. There, Megan works with children 18-months to three-years-old.
“It’s a great way to spend my day,” she said. “I love it.”
Megan plans to graduate next December. After that, she hopes to teach first or second grade in Nebraska.
“I think another huge thing that CEHS does, and UNL in general does too, is that it creates a pull to stay in Nebraska,” Megan said. “We become passionate about the university, and we become passionate about the people around us.”
If you would like to help CEHS students like Megan do great things in the world, too, please contact the University of Nebraska Foundation at 800-432-3216 or give online.
This story was written by foundation intern Madison Wurtele, who is studying journalism, English and political science at UNL.
