Well, my name is Kyle Polke and I am currently a Freshman at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I am from Tinley Park, Illinois, a southern suburb of Chicago. I attended Victor J. Andrew, a public High School in Consolidated High School District 230.
Simply put, high school was my forte. I enjoyed and took advantage of every day from the time I arrived to the time I departed. Victor J. Andrew (commonly shortened to 'Andrew') gave me numerous opportunities to discover who I am. Outside of the classroom, I was the class president, a multi-sport athlete, and a mentor and role model for staff, students, and administrators alike. Andrew gave me the opportunities to sharpen and practice leadership and social skills. Inside the classroom, Andrew offered me excellent teachers who excelled in their subject areas. My teachers were only strengthened by the educational experiences that they facilitated including Cadaver Camp, a 3-day human cadaver dissection for my Anatomy & Physiology course. This and others like it were part of what defined my high school experience. One of the most influential experiences I participated in was Teaching Internship. The Teaching Internship program at our school allows students to student teach and intern in an elementary or middle school in the surrounding area. I had the unique experience of student teaching with one of my previous teachers. For my last semester of Senior Year, I student taught 8th Grade Science and Prairie View Middle School in Tinley Park, Illinois. I spent my afternoon 4 days per week interning in my cooperating school and the other day was spent in the Andrew classroom learning about the teaching profession and creating a teaching portfolio for my experience. It was one of the greatest experiences I have ever been a part of and allowed me to affirm to myself that I truly want to go into the field of Education.
But why MU?
As I aforementioned, I loved my high school experience. I loved it so much that I never really wanted to
leave. That became evident in the days and hours before the May 1st national decision deadline. When I received my acceptance letter to Marquette University back in late January, I never thought it would lead me to where I am today. I applied to over fifteen different colleges during my senior year of high school (most of which I knew very little about). Marquette just happened to be one of those schools. When April came around and I began to look more closely at Marquette, I realized how unique it was. Looking beyond how conventional Marquette’s trademark “Be the Difference” slogan was I began to realize that it aligned nearly perfectly with my future goals. The field of education is full of teachers who share the same goal as they walk into their classrooms each day. Throughout high school I was involved with countless organizations and programs that shaped my school, my state, and my country. Even before stepping on campus for the first time, Marquette’s “Be the Difference” slogan connected with me and made me feel at home. And so, though broad, the “Be the Difference” slogan is specific to Marquette students. Not because we will make a difference once we get out into the “real” world, but because, as a current student, Marquette will guide us to be the difference, regardless big or small, in the life of someone each and every day. While I am still discovering what Marquette has to offer, so far I have only been pleasantly surprised. No matter what I discover in the coming years I know that one thing will always stay the same. Marquette, its student and faculty alike, are committed to being the difference in the world day in and day out. And no matter what life throws at me, I am confident that being the difference is always something I want to be a part of.
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