BDN Interviews UMaine Valedictorian, Salutatorian About Future Plans
The Bangor Daily News spoke with the University of Maine’s Class of 2014 valedictorian Sierra Ventura of Belfast, Maine, and salutatorian Jennifer Chalmers of Foxborough, Mass., for the article “UMaine valedictorian, salutatorian both hope to be teachers despite changes in education system.” Ventura, who will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in music education, said she plans to pursue a master’s in music education and eventually become a music teacher. “What really gets me is seeing the look on the kids’ faces when they get it. When we’re working on something, and it finally clicks. It’s so cool to get that spark,” Ventura said. Chalmers, a history and English double major, said she has joined Teach for America, a teacher training program that puts recent college graduates in schools with socio-economically disadvantaged student populations, and will teach in New Jersey in August. “I just love learning, and other than trying to learn forever, the only way I can think to do anything with that is to help others like it,” Chalmers said.