In the Jungle; Mikaela Burgess

Thank you for joining us for In The Jungle, where you stay connected to the current students at Pittsburgh State University. Now here's your host, Howard Smith. Welcome to In The Jungle, where we meet the grillers of Pittsburgh State University. I'm your host, Howard Smith, and today we are joined by Kayla Burgess. Thanks for being here. Oh, of course. Thank you for having me. Hey, where are you from? I'm sorry, I went, lived there my whole entire life, went from kindergarten through high school. I was a cardinal, so. There you go. Well, they've had great programs over there. That's a great school district, so. They have. And really, you're not that far from home. No. But far enough? Yeah. You know, any time away is, you know, you're doing your own thing. Yeah. ECU major. Early childhood education. Yes, sir. Unified program. Tell me a little bit about what's involved in that. You know, it was something that you think about. I thought about pretty early on. It was what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to work with kids. So when I came on my visit, visit for basketball, actually, you know, they walked me through the education department.

I got to meet my advisor early and that kind of thing. And just instantly, I was so, you know, just impressed with the facilities, the people. That's something that really stuck out to me just right off the bat. Now, in education today, I know they get you out into buildings early on in that particular program. I think they call them field experiences. Yes. Oh, yes, they do. Tell me what was involved in that and what maybe what you learned from that. It's just, I mean, you know, in schooling, I've always been a hands-on learner. And I think that those field experiences gave you one of the biggest things that I think I saw personally was just, you know, you're allowed to struggle a little bit before you're tossed into a situation where, you know, it's all on you or the accountability thing. But I loved it. I got to see everything from, you know, a kindergarten classroom to third grade, to special ed, to preschool day care. I mean, I spent a lot of time in different areas and environments and I feel like they're really well equipped to me for where I am now. So tell me about what schools were you in then? I did some at Lakeside Elementary in Pittsburgh. Okay. My did's unity, but a lot of different schools have different, you know, atmospheres and population sizes and that kind of thing.

And one of my favorite experiences that I did was actually right on campus in the Pitz State preschool. Oh, really? A little girl is pretty school. Yeah. So I was in there for four semesters, I think. And you just, you know, you gradually work your way up into, earn a little bit more responsibility every semester. And last semester, you're a student teacher and you're leading the whole thing and that's an experience that I really, really enjoyed. How come elementary and not secondary? You know, I've had a lot of people ask me that and still I have a lot of people ask me that. And, you know, you either talk to somebody and they have no idea why you want to do what you want to do with little kids or, you know, they sympathize with you and they see that same passion that you have, but I've just always had a passion for the little ones and you never know what could happen down the road, but right now that's where I'm at. Any, any professors have a strong influence on you in the program? Oh, definitely. Oh, there's so many. I mean, I would honestly say it'd be harder for me to give you a professor that I had that didn't impact me in some way. Keri Chronister is the lead teacher in the preschool on campus and her mentorship just meant the world to me. Dr. Samuel's, Dr. York, I mean, and Dr. Alessage Horn, you know, she is, makes you feel

like your best friends every time you walk in her office and she's always just a warm smile and a helpful person to have in your corner and she's just made the whole experience awesome. So I know that you've had another side to your educational experience. Tell me a little bit about some of your outside activities. Now, I know you played basketball. Was that fun? Basketball, yeah. You know, that's, that has been my love for a long time, but that gets you involved in the community really just gave me an opportunity to branch out. I never took below 21 credit hours as a semester. 21 credit hours as a semester? That was the minimum that I took my last semester as 21. So I was a pretty busy girl. Well, no kidding. I mean, you're practicing your studying and what was your toughest class in? Well, I also minored in business. So when my toughest class might stem from the business side of that, but as far as education, I don't know. It's hard for me to say my toughest class because I really did enjoy a lot of those classes. So even if it was a little harder, challenging, I enjoyed that challenge, but it was good.

What business is another area? My mom. My mom. So just in case you decide the education's not the way you want to go, you should have some kind of backing in something else. So I got a minor in business and I've always had the dream to run my own preschool. So having a minor in business is kind of a good to have in your back pocket. You're going to do that. What's your goals when you get out of here then? Eventually, that's a goal of mine. I also have a passion for basketball still. So coaching is something that I will definitely pursue in the future, but just because it gives you the opportunity to work with kids, you know, and really impact their lives early on and in a different kind of setting, which I enjoy. So you're still going to get a touch secondary kids, you might say. Yeah, there you go. Yes, absolutely. You got the full spectrum of them and have that balance in there. What really stands out about Pitt State to you? I mean, what caused you to come over here? You know, through basketball and through my education here, I had a conversation with my mom recently and I actually just said, you know, it's not like the classes or the

classrooms or any of that, the urban coaches and the professors and the people that you met along the way. And I just think, I can't speak enough for Pitt State in the way that they just, in every aspect, just kind of make you feel like you belong. And that was one of the biggest things for me. You know, it always felt right. And Coach Lord had a huge part to do with that. And then as I got into my degree, you know, just the different professors I met along the way, it just really made me feel like this is it. This is where I belong. I didn't never had to question, you know, if this was where I was supposed to go, I always felt confident in that and I think that that speaks volumes for Pitt State. So in looking ahead here with the business background and the elementary education degree, do you think that, well, you feel that you're really prepared then maybe to go out and start that business? Absolutely. And if you were to do that, where would you do that? You know, I've given a lot of thought to that, but I haven't really made any decisions. I think I got a lot, a big part of my heart is at home, you know, in Web City and that area.

It'd be hard for me to drift too far away from a lot of my family lives there and that kind of thing. Well, that's cool. And now you're a graduate student. And I've been talking about your undergraduate degree. So what's your graduate degree going to be? Educational leadership is what I'm working on right now. Okay. Principal, maybe. Maybe, you never know. Director, one of those roles. Maybe, something like that. How far along are you in that program? Just this is my first semester, so I'm nine credits. Nine credits? Okay. Not 21? Yeah. It's good to say you've cut back substantially. That's pretty good. What's your favorite part of campus? I love the preschool on campus. That's being a part of that facility. It's in the people. Just all the way down, I think it starts with President Scott and say it does a great job of, you know, just instilling that belief in you. Hey, that proves why you belong at Pittsburgh State University. Thank you for joining us in the jungle. We really have enjoyed watching your career and it's really outstanding the feel that you're going into today. Good luck. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. For in the jungle, Wednesday afternoons at 350 and Friday mornings at 850, here on KRPS.