Meet a Husker: Hope Belcastro

26 Feb 2024    

Meet Hope Belcastro, a sophomore from Omaha, Nebraska, majoring in secondary English education.

Why did you choose the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?

I chose to attend UNL because I knew how amazing the teacher program here was. There are not only amazing professors that push their students to be a better educator and human, but there are many different opportunities to be involved, gain experience, and find community. The teaching program here ensures that students get valuable learning experience in the classroom before student teaching. That is rare! Being from Nebraska, I knew UNL would welcome me with open arms and prepare me for my future. As always, Go Big Red!

What activities and organizations are you involved in on campus?

I am a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. I am also in the Teacher Scholars Academy and I am a Huskers CARE Peer Educator!

What has been your favorite class so far and why?

My favorite class has been multicultural education with Dr. Morales. Teaching is not only a profession that requires academic knowledge, such as how to plan a lesson or how to teach students to read, it is also a profession that requires the knowledge of what it is like to be a human. With that being said, being a human looks different for every single person. Everyone comes from a different background or may hold different values. Multicultural education was able to help me understand those who are different from me and how I can better provide support for them in or outside of the classroom. It truly was a class that changed me as a person, not just an aspiring educator.

What are your career goals?

My career goals are to teach English at the secondary level. I hope to enroll in a cadre program to earn my masters right away. Although, my biggest goal would be to take over the Millard Education Academy. It is a program for high school students interested in teaching and allows them to take classes tailored to that and gain experience through practicums. I was in the academy during high school and it really changed my life. I would love to give back to the community and program that built me.

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