Student Achievements
An Inside Look of an English Graduate's Experience
December 08, 2021
During her graduate studies, Julie Oosterink has learned how important it is for educators to maintain a mindset as a student themselves to connect with their own. She supports the idea that teachers are lifelong learners, and that students never stop learning even after obtaining their degree. Her study of literature at GVSU has also strengthened her ability to engage students with poetry and prose. As she began the graduate program, she was teaching 8th grade history and theatre. As she was finishing her thesis, she accepted a new position teaching AP Literature and freshmen English at Jenison High School. She was able to enhance her lessons with short stories, poems, and novels that she studied herself as a graduate student.
Julie’s connections at GVSU has helped her with her coursework—particularly her master’s thesis project. She highly encourages future graduate students to meet with a faculty advisor before starting their first thesis proposal to simplify the process. Once she had connected with her thesis advisor, Avis Hewitt, she benefited from her expertise, guidance, and encouragement. Having a good support system with professors and peers who have had, and currently are, walking the same path as she did has supported her throughout her program.
Julie received her Master of Arts in English degree at GVSU in 2019. After graduation, she has had more time to engage with curriculum building and connecting with students through extracurricular activities. This year she began teaching poetry and coaching students in a creative writing club. She is developing the curriculum to be more inclusive by introducing diverse texts. When Julie is outside of the classroom, she enjoys encouraging students in their love of theatre by being involved with the Jr. high and high school thespian clubs.
She hopes to encourage her students to grow and understand the good they can do in the world through her teaching. Julie hopes the books they read will expand their empathy, creativity, and drive to know more. She believes all her students are extremely capable, and that with each writing opportunity they face, they have the ability to strengthen their voices.