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You are here: Home / Spotlights / Student Spotlights / Spotlight: Carissa Harmon
Carissa Harmon outside
Carissa Harmon

Spotlight: Carissa Harmon

2020 October 22 by University Communications

“I got the chance to tutor on campus, which proved to me that I wanted to be a teacher.”

Academic Program: Associate of Art of Teaching 

Hometown: Steelville, Missouri

Why did you choose to attend Missouri State-West Plains?

Missouri State-West Plains is a nice stepping stone coming from a small town. Born and raised where everyone knew everyone and being the first generation of my family to go to school, the thought of moving to a big university scared me to death. At Missouri State-West Plains, I get to use my A+ Scholarship.

How would you describe your experience here?

My experience at Missouri State-West Plains is unique. I got involved with the agriculture club my first year, then TRIO, and this semester I have helped start the Sign Language Club, and I became a student ambassador.

What has been your favorite thing about Missouri State-West Plains?

My favorite thing about Missouri State-West Plains is that I get to live with my grandma, but I also am able to put myself out there and make new friends and get involved with people who have the same interests as me. I also got the chance to tutor on campus, which proved to me that I wanted to be a teacher.

What has been your favorite course?

This is hard because I have liked all of my classes, but my two top favorites are Calculus I (I’m going to be a math teacher) and my agriculture classes with Dr. Linda Wulff-Risner.

How have faculty and staff helped you during your time at Missouri State-West Plains?

The faculty have helped me realize that I am a college student and it is okay to stress out over homework but to not give up on myself and my future. They have really helped me grow into a new person and to realize that nobody is perfect.

How did you choose your major?

Choosing my major was hard. I came from a small town and I was heavily involved in 4-H and FFA, but I also loved school and the relationships that I had with my teachers and staff at school. So, I started taking my general education classes through dual credit. I took College Composition 1 and 2 and College Algebra. My other math teacher was frustrated that I did not take calculus and college algebra, so instead of having both on my plate, I helped tutor for college algebra and pre-calc trig. Here, I started thinking that I wanted to be a math teacher but still didn’t want to give up my farm roots. So fast forward and I am in college attending classes. I take some ag classes and some teaching classes. Then I get asked to tutor math. When I started seeing more and more sparks of understanding, I knew that I wanted to be a high school math teacher.

What have you learned from TRiO Student Support Services that will help you succeed in your education, career or life?

From the TRIO program I learned that to be the best you possible, you can’t be afraid to be yourself. You have to put yourself out there and make new friends, talk in front of people, pursue new opportunities. This is going to help me to be comfortable talking to my future students and my peers when I start my teaching career, and it will follow with me everywhere I go. Even though TRIO is no longer here, I am so thankful for the life lessons, friendships and memories I made through TRIO.

What are your plans after graduation?

After I graduate from Missouri State-West Plains, I plan to transfer to Springfield to finish my bachelor’s degree in secondary math education. I still am unsure where I am going to teach, but I am 99% sure that I am going to move to my hometown and teach at a small-town school.

Filed Under: Spotlights, Student Spotlights Tagged With: AA Teaching, Carissa Harmon, Spotlight

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