Megan's DuckStory
University of Oregon senior Megan Knowles is busy preparing for her fall term, final exams while eagerly keeping one eye on graduation in the spring.
As she approaches the end of her school days at the UO, she's weighing options for her future: go on to grad school, teach abroad, or, take a couple of months off to relax.
While Megan certainly feels the pressure to make a decision, she attributes her UO education and experience to making it possible for her to have these choices. As an education major, she's been exposed to countless opportunities on campus, exceptional professors she's gotten to know well and a close-knit group of classmates. She's taken advantage of the College of Education's extensive outreach units, gained field-based experiences through programs like EC Cares - which provides early intervention and special education to infants, toddlers and preschool-age children in Lane County.
Megan chose the University of Oregon after discarding the idea of going back east; partly due to the expense and so she could attend UO's School of Music and Dance. Having been to campus several times during high school for the Festival of Bands, she felt comfortable settling-in as a Duck and flutist with the Oregon Marching Band.
Being an incoming freshman can be challenging; however, arriving on campus two weeks before classes started - a marching band requirement - Megan quickly met and became friends with a cohort of other student band members who shared her same interests.
In fact, that's Megan's best advice to students, "Find something to be involved in. I think if I was just going to classes, I'd feel disconnected."
In addition to her studies and clinic time at the College of Ed, Megan has participated in intermural sports, symphonic band and continues flute lessons at the School of Music - even after she switched her major to education.
The importance of donor support is not lost on Megan. As a student caller with UO's Annual Giving Program DuckCall Center, she talks with hundreds of alumni each week, updating them on UO events and encouraging them to give back to the university so, just as she has done, other students may take advantage of the vast UO experience.
Megan enjoys sharing stories about her time at the UO - and has raised nearly $50,000 for academic support in just one term! That goes a long way toward supporting educational experiences both in-and-out of the classroom - something Megan knows she is living proof of the benefits.
She eagerly invites alumni to come visit campus as often as they can. "There's so much happening here - the opportunities are endless!"
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