Kodi Driver: Business Education Major
From her days as a student athlete at Switzerland County High School in Vevey,
Indiana, Kodi Driver has found that good mentors are worth their weight in gold.
As a student athlete who played three sports, she had coaches for mentors. But
it wasn't until she met her computer applications teacher, Debra Seaver, that she
discovered she wanted to lead other students.
"She not only made class fun, but she was great with practical advice." A high
school counselor, whose goal was to make sure every student at her high school
was able to afford the opportunity to go to college, also inspired Driver.
She took her desire to be a student mentor to college at the University of
Southern Indiana. Her advisor, Dr. Greg Valentine, helped her to navigate
through a bachelor's degree in Business Education. Currently
she is preparing for her student teaching.
Driver sees a dual benefit in having a business education degree. "You can work
for a company that trains employees in computer applications or computer
systems. But I really lean towards teaching high school students." Driver has
prepared herself for her first semester of student teaching by observing the
business education teachers at North High School. "It was an amazing experience.
The teachers there are so respected by the students. North is
a very diverse school; coming from Vevey, Indiana, it was eye opening. I
learned a lot about what kind of teacher I plan to be when I am in the school
system."
She favors business classes with a mathematical bent. "I love to work with
numbers. With my background in math, I find myself preparing lesson plans heavy
in personal finance, something that high school students do not understand."
Driver explains that most high school graduates don't have a real knowledge of
budgeting for items like car insurance, rent, or groceries. They see a credit
card as an easy way to manipulate their budgets, but often end up in terrible
credit card debt. Add college loans to the formula, and most
22-year olds have a staggering debt to pay off.
"I want to teach students how to deal with real life problems." A business
education degree is what will afford Driver to do just that.
For now, she prepares lesson plans, course outlines, and networks to find
motivational speakers as she readies herself for student teaching. "I feel very
prepared," she says.
Even though a torn anterior cruciate ligament ended her career as a student
athlete, Driver's dream is to be an athletic director back at her old high
school and to be a mentor, much like her high school counselor and find ways for kids
to afford to go to college without breaking the bank.
Story by Barbara Goodwin
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