I Want to Make a Difference in People's Lives

Britz Mathis plans to pursue a career in parent education or pregnancy and prenatal support.

When I first started at UNI, I declared Spanish teaching as my major. I loved Spanish, but I realized it wasn't what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. As I researched various majors, family services struck me as the perfect fit.

I'm currently interning at Parenting Way Inc. in West Des Moines. Their mission is to educate parents for the health, safety and success of children and youth. I am able to observe what parent education is like in an agency setting. I am also helping to update The Parenting Way curriculum. This is really exciting for me because it allows me to take what I've learned in the classroom at UNI and apply it to teaching parents.

It is my passion to raise children in a secure and loving home. What I'm learning in family services will not only help me be a better parent, but I will be able to help others do the same. Upon my graduation in May, I plan to pursue a career in parent education or pregnancy and prenatal support.

Several people have made a strong impact on my college career. Dr. Gross is an amazing professor, and her high expectations pushed me to excel in her parenting class. What I learned in that class will help me professionally and personally. I am also grateful to Orville and Winifred Deeds for their support of a scholarship. They are both deceased, but if I could talk to them I would tell them how encouraged I was to receive this scholarship. It has helped reduce my college debt.

I look forward to graduating and making a difference in the lives of others.