I’m Derek Wilson, a sophomore studying Advertising & Public Relations and Elementary Education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Something that I have always found interesting was that I am one of the only people in my entire family to be left handed. This was sometimes a challenge because everything that I was taught was backwards to me
I grew up in the small town of Aurora, Nebraska where the population was around 4,000 and the class size was 80. In high school, I was involved in band where I played percussion during the concert season and the quad drums during the marching season. I also was highly involved in Speech and One-Act. In speech I competed in Oral Interpretation of Drama (OID) which is a play type performance, but the actors aren’t allowed to talk directly to each other or touch each other. I was also in duet with one of my best friends and also my roommate. In One-Act I was part of the lights and sound crew for two years and during my senior year I was part of the cast where I was able to showcase my percussion talents on stage. All of the activities I was involved in taught me the importance of teamwork, dedication, communication and leadership.
During my junior year of high school, I was given a camera and told to go photograph the home cross country meet for the school's yearbook. This is where I found my love for photography. I was lucky enough to have a brother that had a photography business and was able to get a camera for free from him. I love to learn about all the settings on my camera and have always looked for new opportunities where I can grow my skills. One of my favorite styles of photography is portraits. I love capturing people in a way that highlights them. I also love trying out new ideas whether it be in new locations, adding color lens covers or even adding a prop to enhance the shoot.
I’ve always been a life-long learner and creative person so studying advertising and education seemed like the perfect fit for me. When I am not in school you can find me working at the Edgerton Explorit Center, a hands-on, science learning museum for people of all ages. During the summer I teach week-long, science based summer camps ranging from various topics. My personal favorite was my ocean themed camp where I got to take my campers swimming. This job was what helped me discover my love for teaching. I hope to make an impact on all my future students and help them realize that learning can become something that is loved.
After graduation, I hope to get my teaching license and teach in either Nebraska or somewhere on the West Coast. If I had to pick one grade to teach, I would want to teach first grade. This grade to me seems like it would be the perfect age group, the students know the basics of writing and reading and I am able to build up their skills. I also find this age group the most fun to be around, they always have something to say and I love hearing their crazy stories. While I’m teaching, I hope to obtain my Masters in Education to one day work as a superintendent where I can use my advertising and communication skills to better a school district.
My experiences growing up in a small town along with my interests and passion for learning, have all shaped me into the person I am today. I am looking forward to my journey in education and advertising, where I can work toward a future in which I make positive and meaningful impacts both in the classroom and for the people around me.
