PK has been so much more than a professor to me—she has truly been my KNPE mentor, my guiding force and my “mom away from home” throughout my journey at NIU. From the moment I stepped into the KNPE program, she saw something in me that I didn’t always see in myself. She made NIU feel like home, even when I lived almost two hours away from my real support system. Her presence gave me stability, comfort and confidence in a space where I was still learning to find my identity as a future educator.
As a KNPE professor, she supported me academically, professionally and personally. She checked in on me, pushed me when I needed it and reminded me that I was capable even on the days when I felt stretched thin between student teaching, coaching, classes and working full-time. She cared about me as a whole person, not just as a student in the program—and that level of genuine care is something I will always carry with me.
As a mentor, PK guided me through some of the most transformative moments of my development as a physical educator. She taught me how to show up authentically, lead with purpose and teach with both confidence and compassion. She modeled what it looks like to be strong, grounded, professional and human all at the same time. Her feedback was thoughtful, honest and rooted in her desire for me to grow—not just as a teacher, but as a leader and a future difference-maker for students who look like me.
But the role she played in my life went far beyond academics. PK became the person who made sure I was okay when I was overwhelmed, the person who celebrated my wins like they were her own, and the person who reminded me that I belonged in this program and in this profession. She created space for me to grow, to question, to learn and to be myself—something that mattered deeply while living and learning so far from home. In every way that counted, she stepped into the role of a “mom away from home,” giving me comfort, guidance and care during some of the most defining years of my life.
I wouldn’t be the educator I am becoming without PK’s impact. She shaped my confidence, my joy for teaching, my leadership and my belief in myself. The lessons she instilled in me—about education, professionalism, kindness, and resilience—will follow me into every gym, every school, every student interaction and every chapter of my career.
She has been my KNPE professor, my mentor and truly my mom away from home. And I will always be grateful for the love, wisdom and unwavering support she has given me throughout my NIU journey.
