Mary Rose Fair
“The minute I stepped on campus, the staff was so accommodating to me and so extremely welcoming. I felt like I could see myself truly fitting in.”
Major: English
What residence hall do you live in? GREEN Pods
What does the Journey Scholarship mean to you? The Journey Scholarship has truly been a blessing in my life. I want to give thanks, but I cannot rightly express them in words! Without this scholarship, I know my college experience would not be running as smoothly as it has been. I am so grateful to the donors who have helped me along the way!
Why did you choose Central? I chose Central because it felt like a true home away from home for me. The minute I stepped on campus, the staff was so accommodating to me and so extremely welcoming. I felt like I could see myself truly fitting in. I had heard amazing things from alumni and now I know why!
Have you studied abroad or do you plan to? I have not studied abroad, but I am interested in traveling to London or participating in a faculty-led trip overseas. Central is so supportive of the study abroad program, they make it so easy to travel!
What are your future goals? In the future, I hope (and plan) to become a secondary English teacher and eventually become a professor so that I can one day be an example of someone who is able to live and breathe their passion with their students.
What activities do you participate in on and off campus? I am a member of the Central College Dance Team. I am a student ambassador in the Admission Office. I am an active member in the Central Teacher Academy. I participate in the GREEN Pod events with my peers and I am a part of the SOS Orientation staff. In addition to on-campus activities, I am also a dance instructor/choreographer at Dans Company in Pella.
What has been your favorite class? My favorite class has been Poetry Writing with Sara Perez. This class really opened a lot of doors for me in terms of my writing career and I think it really showed me that I was in the right place in terms of my major because I genuinely enjoyed every second I spent in that classroom and I know that isn’t something every college student can say!
Who has been your favorite professor? Why? My favorite professor has been Sara Perez, an adjunct professor for my poetry class. She knew exactly how to teach the class in a way that was engaging and at the same time, so interesting to be a part of. She made time in the classroom amusing and I would go back and take her class every semester if I could!
Have you done any internships? Do you plan to? I have not done any internships, per se. In the education program, my internship is a student teaching placement and I plan to start this during my senior year. Meanwhile, I am placed in a classroom with a mentor teacher learning how to handle my student teaching side by side before I am thrown into the position. It is an amazing program and it gives students experience in the classroom long before the student teaching experience.
Hobbies/Interests: My hobbies and interests include dancing, writing poetry and reading.
Fun fact about yourself: A fun fact about myself is my immense love for whales in the ocean! The parts of my brain that aren’t filled with amazing facts that Central has taught me, are filled with amazing facts about whales!
Favorite food in Central Market: Bahn Mi
What has been your favorite Central Memory so far? Performing alongside my best friends during Homecoming Weekend. To see so many alumni intermingled with students and getting to be a part of that fun experience.
What do you like about your major? I love absolutely everything about my major. Before coming to Central, being an English major meant hardly anything at all to me, but now that I am fully engulfed in the program, I realize I am in exactly the right place because I find myself excited to learn every day.
What book are you currently reading? I am reading Memory of Water by Emmi Itaränta as a common read book for Orientation at Central. My favorite book to date is The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint Exupéry.
What are your plans after graduation? I plan to work as a high school English teacher until I can go to grad school and become a professor of English. I hope to continue writing as a hobby during my free time!