Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram
The first time Kayleigh Hagood toured the 香蕉视频 campus, she felt an immediate connection. The campus reminded her of her small hometown of Brookwood, Alabama, with its close-knit community and welcoming atmosphere. As a first-generation college student, Hagood was looking for a place where she could carve out her own identity and explore who she could become.
Transferring from Shelton State Community College, Hagood arrived at UWA with excitement and apprehension. She admits that, initially, she was reserved. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know anyone except for one friend I had grown up with,鈥� she says, reflecting on those first few weeks. However, her mother encouraged her to join a sorority to help her meet people. Despite her reluctance, it was a decision that changed everything.
Hagood built campus connections with her peers and professors through Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority. She says joining the sorority pushed her to get involved in several other campus organizations, including Student Support Services (SSS), which she describes as a great resource for first-generation college students. Her involvement in these groups led to leadership opportunities she had never imagined, including serving as a UWA ambassador and becoming a member of multiple honor societies, including Tri Alpha, Kappa Delta Pi, Order of Omega, Omega Delta Kappa, and the Blue Key Honor Society.
香蕉视频ally, Hagood has thrived at UWA, especially within the university鈥檚 nationally-acclaimed education program. 鈥淚 truly believe it is the best in the state,鈥� she says, noting that her older sister and aunt both graduated from UWA with an education degree. 鈥淥ur professors make sure we grasp the material and gain plenty of practical, hands-on experience.鈥�
Her passion for teaching shines through in her fieldwork, showing firsthand how well-prepared UWA students are to step into the classroom. 鈥淎t Westside Elementary and U.S. Jones Elementary in Demopolis, where I completed my placements, the teachers would often ask me where I had learned to do some of the things I was incorporating into my lessons,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淚t was incredibly rewarding to know that the preparation I was receiving at UWA was having a real impact.鈥�
Despite the perceived challenges she and other future educators often hear when considering a career in education鈥攕uch as 鈥渓ow pay and high stress鈥濃�擧agood鈥檚 passion for teaching is deeply rooted in her childhood experiences. She recalls how her teachers were a light and advocate for her and her peers, and that sense of support has shaped her unwavering commitment to the profession. 鈥淭eaching isn鈥檛 about getting rich, she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about making a difference in a student鈥檚 life.鈥�
Hagood鈥檚 parents never attended college, so she is deeply appreciative of the sacrifices they made to provide her with the opportunities she鈥檚 had while at UWA. Inspired by their example, she鈥檚 committed to paying it forward in her own classroom. Whether it鈥檚 quietly contributing funds so students can attend a field trip, providing a snack for children who need one, or offering care and support to students who might not receive it at home, Hagood鈥檚 goal is to make a positive impact on her students鈥� lives.
鈥淥ne thing that will always stay with me is how my parents went without so their four kids could have everything we needed,鈥� Hagood reflects. This experience informs her teaching philosophy, rooted in Maslow鈥檚 Hierarchy of Needs, which states that before a child can succeed academically, their basic developmental and psychological needs must first be met.
As she prepares to graduate and step into her role as an educator, Hagood acknowledges that graduating in December means she鈥檒l likely inherit a class from a teacher who left mid-year or take over for someone on maternity leave or facing health issues.
鈥淚 know I鈥檒l likely have to wait until next fall before I鈥檓 in my own classroom, but I trust the process and God鈥檚 timing. Helping students grow,鈥� she says, 鈥渨ill make the wait and hard work worthwhile.鈥�