Courtesy photoTerry Blount, 38, is a non-traditional student who is married with two children. He returned to school nine years ago with the goal of teaching science in middle school.
Terry is one of more than 2,400 students eligible for spring/summer 2020 graduation. Learn more about his time at Wichita State and what is next for the grad.
What is your degree in?
My degree is for education - sixth- through 12th-grade earth and space science
What led you to WSU?
When it came time to look for a school, WSU was the clear choice. Location, cost, and — most importantly — reputation, led me to WSU.
How are you feeling leading up to graduation?
I am so very excited to graduate after these nine long years of hard work. I have been working full time while taking classes for the past several years to finish my degree, all while being a husband and dad.
What are your career plans?
I have accepted a job to teach seventh grade science in USD 262 at Valley Center Middle School. I am super excited to start this new job and new chapter in my life.
How has the COVID-19 crisis altered those plans, if at all?
COVID-19 has made my last semester both challenging and a great opportunity to learn even more about how to be flexible while teaching. However, the extra family time has been a blessing. The COVID-19 outbreak has forced us all to slow down and focus on what is most important. Even though that this is a challenge to us all, we need to remember that staying home and missing out on things that are important to us are what keeps everyone safe.
What has been your most helpful learning experience while a student at WSU?
The one thing that has been the most helpful at WSU has been the professors. Many of the professors treat the students not just as numbers, but as people who they cared for very much.
What was been your biggest challenge as a student, and how did you overcome it?
Time and balancing life, work, family and school has been the hardest part of being a student. To overcome this, I had to see the value in the time I have and use it. It took sacrifice of spare time. But as I was told many years ago — to do the things I want to do, I need to do the things I don’t want to do.
