What year did you graduate from Burlington High School?
2018
Tell us about your accomplishments since graduating from BHS.
After graduation, I went to the University of Iowa to study social work. During my time there I spent 4 years in Dance Marathon and spent my last year serving as the Executive Director to help the organization raise $1.4 million to support Iowa families affected by pediatric cancer. After graduation, I went to Washington University in St. Louis and earned a Masters in Social Work with an emphasis in health policy. I now live in Washington, D.C. and work as a Legislative Aide for a member of Congress covering environmental, energy, education, and agriculture policy issues.
During your time at BHS, did you have a favorite staff member who had a positive impact on you? Tell us about them.
Mr. Osbourne was an incredible teacher who helped spark my interest in history and politics. He was a teacher who truly saw the best in all of his students and was committed to supporting us in any way he could. I always knew going into Mr. Osbourne’s class that I would have a lot of fun, but also be exposed to new points of view and subject matters. Mrs. Hess-Haughey was my advisor for student council and helped build my commitment to school spirit and leadership. Tina was an incredible role model and supported my education, but was always someone I could lean on during especially difficult times at school. I loved my time in student council and the skills I learned helped me become who I am today.
Do you have any advice for recent and future graduates?
I think it’s so important to not let anxiety and fear get in the way of your success. Succeeding after high school requires a person to step outside of their comfort zone and try new things. I think that future graduates should follow their most ambitious dreams and believe that they can accomplish them. It may be difficult, but you never know how far you can go before you try.
How did your time at BHS impact your adult life?
BHS gave me the skills and community I needed to grow up and feel confident enough to pursue my goals.