It was such an indescribably and amazing feeling to see that same spark of passion I had as a child ignite in her. This experience furthered the pure joy and love I have to share and teach others about art. During my student teaching, I have been able to experience this with my students fully.
HERRON: Field experience is essential for the art education degree program. You've worked with other art educators in Indianapolis's elementary, middle, and high school classrooms. What grade levels pique your interest the most?
DOUB: Although I am open to teaching any grade level, I have always been interested in teaching high school art. With a passion for landscape photography and ceramics, I felt that those arts disciplines were more accessible to me to teach at the high school level than at the middle school and elementary levels.
I have also been drawn to teaching in high schools to help students figure out what path they want to take in life. It was overwhelming to navigate what career field I wanted to pursue, where I wanted to go for college, and all the other endless possibilities offered when I was in high school. I want to be able to help mentor and navigate that stressful process for my students.
HERRON: During the summer, you also virtually taught K through eighth-grade students enrolled in Herron's Community Learning Programs (CLP). How did you prepare to deliver online lessons? What obstacles did you overcome, and what types of projects did you do?
DOUB: Thanks to the pandemic moving my college classes temporarily online, I was able to experience my professors navigating online teaching, like what worked well and what did not. Taking mental notes of those strengths and weaknesses helped me prep to teach over the summer for CLP.
The main obstacle I overcame while teaching in the virtual space was trying to lift my students' spirits. Being virtual in school for so long, the students were not talkative and shy. I wanted them to get as much interaction as they could through their computer screens while having fun. I encouraged my students to keep their cameras and microphones on while making. Doing this made it feel like we were together in person, sharing and bouncing ideas off each other like you would in the art room.
My fifth- through eighth-grade students designed characters to create an epic stop-motion animation story of their own. My kindergarten through fourth-grade students celebrated Halloween a little early by dressing up every day and designing their own creepy critters out of model magic clay and a 3-D, paper haunted house for their critters.
HERRON: What factors have contributed to your success at Herron since transferring from Ivy Tech Community College? How did you overcome the roadblocks that you encountered?
DOUB: My transfer from Ivy Tech was not the best. When transferring my general studies course into an art education degree, I first had to take four extra college years. However, that changed, and I was able to get a year knocked off.
Although this mishap happened initially, I had the fantastic opportunity to be a work-study student in the Office of Admissions and Student Services. This position gave me and continues to provide me with endless opportunities to meet staff and students and be able to see behind the scenes of the admissions process. Everyone in that office became my support system on campus. I honestly see them all like my second family and am so lucky to have every one of them in my life.
On top of that, I had the utmost support from my parents and older brothers. They were always there to help me navigate and release any stress I had during and after my transfer. I am super lucky to have such a supportive family. I do not know what I would do without them!
HERRON: How easy or difficult was it to establish a sense of community and find your footing in your first semester?
DOUB: I am an introverted person, so establishing a sense of community with my peers was hard at the beginning of my first semester. I was afraid that my art was not good enough compared to others in the school. But my classmates helped me leave my comfort zone by providing uplifting support. Sure, my shyness led to minor interactions when I first transferred, but now I am not afraid to speak up and share my experiences.
Thanks to my work-study position, connecting with staff and faculty was easy from the get-go. They provided such a positive, welcoming, and inclusive environment that never wavered. It was effortless for me to let the walls of my comfort zone down and explore in class and as a student employee.
HERRON: What has been one of your most memorable Herron experiences, whether studying on campus or doing off-campus fieldwork?
DOUB: My most memorable experience was 100% being invited to speak at Herron's Dean's Advisory Board meeting with Herron Dean Hull and IU President Whitten in attendance. It was such an awesome experience to share my student success story, rave about all who helped me reach that success, and share my student teaching experiences.
HERRON: You are always willing to help your students, classmates, and incoming students through your various roles in the classroom and as an assistant for Herron's Office of Admissions and Student Services. What factors influence your values and beliefs about teaching and service?
DOUB: Throughout life, I have always framed things in a positive light and found joy in everything I do. Living life in this manner is more enjoyable than focusing on what is going wrong in your life. This mindset has heavily influenced me to always try to provide everyone with an uplifting, inclusive, supportive, and safe space to grow and learn.
I have experienced environments that were negative. In those environments, I never felt comfortable or confident in myself or completing tasks. I want all my students or anyone I help in the service industry not to feel or experience what I did. I want their experiences to be enjoyable, fun, knowledgeable, and resourceful.
HERRON: What does being a Top 100 student mean to you?
DOUB: It means the absolute world to me. It reinforces that my passion for art, hard work, and perseverance toward my dreams were completely worth it.
