Amelia Thurman
Music Education (emphasis in Flute Performance)
Crown Point, Indiana

What are you doing post-graduation?
I am so grateful to say that I have accepted a teaching job at Thomas A. Edison Jr-Sr School in Lake Station, Indiana. I will be teaching band and choir along with various extracurriculars throughout the school year. I am so excited to begin my teaching career with the support of my colleagues, friends, and family. 

How did Butler support you in finding this job?
My Music Education professors at Butler are a huge part of the reason why I am finding success after graduation. They have spent countless hours supporting me and finding ways to help network and build connections for my career. Having professors like them made it so much easier for me to tackle the job search and my decision to accept a position. The Music Education program here does a really good job of making sure students are prepared upon graduation. 

How did Butler prepare you for this next chapter in your life?
I feel extremely prepared for the next chapter in my life because of the ways that the curriculum of my degree program has set me up for success. Being able to get so much field experience was very valuable in my teacher preparation. The emphasis that was placed on reflection in my collegiate education allowed me to grow as a student and an educator in so many ways. I also valued the ways that Butler helped me get into my community through internships and my job as a Teaching Fellow through the Butler Community Arts School. This gave me another look into the teaching profession while supporting me with a source of income. I found a lot of great experiences in campus life as well within my service fraternity, which helped me to expand my social circle and gave me real-life experience with administration and service here on campus. 

What are your long-term career goals?
I would love to explore the possibilities of working in the education system in different ways throughout my career. As I will begin by teaching secondary music, I would also love to follow my other passions of teaching elementary music and hopefully contribute to teacher education at the collegiate level. Getting additional education is very important to me because I believe that everyone should be a lifelong learner, so I hope to continue with my studies throughout my career. 

What are you going to miss most about your time at Butler?
I am going to miss the community that I have found during my time at Butler. I have found comfort in my classmates, met lifelong friends, and joined organizations that I feel great pride in. I will miss Butler because it not only grew my content knowledge and skills of my profession but also developed my personality and social life in a positive way. 

What advice would you give a first-year student as you reflect on your time at Butler? 
I would tell a first year-student to not be so hard on themselves throughout their time in college. Any college experience is a really challenging and difficult process that can be overwhelming at times. Trying to focus on the positive aspects that might be rewarding for you in the long run is a great way to support yourself and set you up for success in the future. If you put in the work and are passionate about what you’re doing, you will have a really wonderful time here at Butler. Get involved in campus life and find your people because they will be your best shoulder to lean on throughout college.