Success Stories

Stephanie Rhodes

See past the sweet smile and dimpled chin of Stephanie Rhodes, and you encounter a look of quiet fierceness—a determination to challenge assumptions and resist complacency, within herself or the world at large. "I want to make a difference," she says. "And I will not accept no for an answer."

Last Spring, Rhodes put her commitment to the test during a two-week immersion in urban education. Rhodes traveled to inner-city Philadelphia as part of the Philadelphia Urban Seminar. The program, which attracts applicants from across Pennsylvania, seeks to bridge the cultural and experience gaps between urban public school students and aspiring teachers. "I believe that every child has inherent potential to do great things," says Rhodes. "I knew that this experience would make me a more effective teacher."

When Rhodes graduated high school, many friends and family members back home in Buffalo thought she would one day pursue medical school. "At first, I was a little reluctant to tell people that I had found my calling. Then I realized, there is no greater challenge than being a great teacher."

“I want to make a difference. And I will not accept no for an answer.”

“My whole family thought I would go to medical school one day, and I thought so too. At first, I was a little reluctant to tell people that I had found my calling in elementary education. Then I realized there is no greater challenge—or contribution—than to be a great teacher.”

“Here at RMU I’ve learned to appreciate other people’s differences and to help people resolve conflicts. So I think I’m ready to get out there and start to make a difference for someone else.”

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