Julia Bates

Story Posted: Fall 2023

Choosing GMercyU

A 2021 Pennsbury High School graduate, Julia Bates originally heard of GMercyU from her great aunt, who earned her master’s degree at the University.

“I applied to three schools and in a manner of two weeks, GMercyU was the first that reached out to me, which made a good first impression on me as a prospective student,” shared Julia. “Its selling point was threefold: scholarship packages, the campus itself, and the Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP).”

Julia earned a Presidential Scholarship, which required the completion of a project and an interview with faculty members and the scholarship committee. Unfortunately, right before her interview, Julia’s basement flooded while she was home alone. In the middle of the interview, the plumber arrived, leaving Julia to explain the situation to the committee.

“I never thought I would receive such an emphatic and personable group that would be flexible and understanding of my situation. I felt like I had blown the interview, but when I came back on, Dr. Schadler said, ‘I just want to say, from a special education standpoint, the way you handled that entire situation was perfect,’” said Julia. “I then continued with the interview process. Though nerve-wracking, this process was ultimately the best risk I had ever taken because it brought me to this campus.”

While the scholarship played a role in Julia’s decision, she ultimately chose GMercyU because she fell in love with the campus and its community. She first visited GMercyU in March 2021.

As I stepped onto campus, I immediately fell in love with it. The staff was so welcoming and friendly, and I felt like I was seen as a student, which is rare on big college campuses. By the end of my tour, I could comfortably navigate my way around campus, which gave me peace of mind.

After officially becoming a Griffin, Julia received a detailed letter about her major, Early Childhood Education and Special Education, and its Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP). TAP offers the opportunity for students to gain classroom experience starting the first semester of their first year.

“This was a major selling point for me as an Education major because few colleges and universities have programs such as this for their Education majors, making it an invaluable experience,” Julia said.

Why Education?

“I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember. I remember playing school in my basement when I was younger and found it fun to as act the teacher,” shared Julia. “However, there are a combination of my past teachers that I owe a ‘thank you’ to for unknowingly leading me down the path to pursue my education degree and become a teacher.”

Throughout her educational journey, Julia’s teachers have had both a positive and negative effect on her — one specifically “igniting my passion to become a teacher.”

“Though very knowledgeable and personable, my fourth-grade teacher could not recognize my needs as a student. My peers would hardly ever move in the classroom, sitting at our desks for the most of the day. This caused me to have some academic and personal issues during the school year, only to find out that I needed more movement and stimulation throughout my day,” said Julia. “I remember being very bored in school and refusing to do my homework. However, nothing was done for me after discovering the source of my issues. When reflecting on this experience, it was at the moment that I knew I wanted to be the teacher that I needed when I was a student.”

In the Classroom

Julia has loved every minute of her time in the program so far. 

I love the small class sizes, as I can receive a more authentic learning experience with professors who listen and guide rather than just transmitting information as other college professors might do when teaching.

While Julia loves all of her professors at GMercyU, Professor Marianne Boyd is one who's felt like a mentor.

“Professor Marianne Boyd has not only been a professor, but also my academic advisor, the club advisor for Education Outreach, a listening ear, and a mentor whom I look up to as my guide for how I want to be as a teacher. She has been my guidepost since my freshman year when I stepped into my first college course, which she happened to teach. Ever since freshman year, I have had Professor Boyd every semester and while she has taught me various pedagogical practices, she has also molded me into becoming a renowned teacher that is ready to enter the field when I graduate,” shared Julia. “I am eternally grateful for all that she has done for me and I only wish to have that great of an impact on my students as she has done for me.”

Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP)

As a junior, Julia has not yet completed her pre-student teaching or student teaching, but she has participated in TAP. She’s worked and gain experience with different ages, abilities, and educational locations.

Starting in her first year, Julia observed in the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit throughout the fall semester and a fourth-grade classroom at MaST III Charter School in the spring semester. During the fall of her sophomore year, she observed a kindergarten classroom at the Goddard School and a third-grade classroom in the Norristown Area School District in the spring. Currently, she’s placed at an elementary school in Pennsbury School District for the fall and spring semesters.

"My biggest takeaway is that through these experiences, I have learned what age group I resonate the best with – the older students (roughly third through sixth grade). After my first day observing at MaST III, I loved the age of the students, how they were both independent and dependent at the same time. I knew that the environment was not for me when I was in the kindergarten classroom the following semester,” shared Julia. “No other experience thus far has come close to how deeply active and involved I was in the fourth-grade classroom, which made me fall in love with that age group.”

Life on Campus

I made it my goal on campus to become highly involved on campus because I am a commuter, and I don’t have the ‘typical’ college experience that many others my age have.

Julia is President of Education Outreach, a club dedicated to helping pre-service teachers gain an alternative perspective on the field of education while practicing the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy. Each semester, the club aims to host a service and professional development events for pre-service teachers to gain additional educational experiences.

In years past, Education Outreach has done several service projects, including the adoption of families from the Breathing Room Foundation for the holidays, running a book drive for a Philadelphia school without access to a library, and running a drive to collect school supplies for indigenous people living on impoverished reservations.

Additionally, the group hosts professional development events on topics such as teaching with mental health/wellness, teaching during the pandemic, and a discussion on race and diversity in education. Education Outreach also hosted a GMercyU teaching panel, where former Education majors returned to speak to current students and engage in discussions surrounding their experiences as teachers.

Outside of Education Outreach, Julia is the Vice President for Best Buddies, where she helps the group focus on socialization through a variety of activities such as karaoke, playing games, making crafts, and engaging in service projects.

This club cultivates friendship, inclusion, and integration of both members with and without a disability through our monthly meetings that promote socialization amongst members.

Julia is also a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, an honor society recognizing student success within the first year of college. She served as Board Secretary during her sophomore year, but ultimately stepped down to continue her involvement in other clubs.

In addition, Julia is a student within the Honors Program run by Dr. Patrick Messina, and is a tutor in the Student Success Center where she helps her peers in math, psychology, and history.

“I have plans to apply to be part of Sigma Phi Sigma and Kappa Delta Pi honor societies in 2024 to continue practicing mercy and being involved on campus,” said Julia.

Post-Graduation Plans

Julia’s dream job after graduating is to work as an elementary school teacher in third, fourth, fifth, or sixth grade. It has been, and continues to be, a goal of Julia’s to return to Pennsbury School District. She’s also considering surrounding districts, such as Neshaminy, Council Rock, Upper Dublin, Hatboro-Horsham, Bristol School District, and more.

“I found my love for teaching mathematics by being a tutor at GMercyU. Ever since my sophomore year, I have thought that when I return to get my master’s degree, it will be in secondary education, focusing on mathematics,” shared Julia. “My tutees can attest that I like teaching mathematics, which is ironic because I detested it in elementary school. But ever since I became a tutor and helped my friends with their math courses, I knew that I wanted to become a secondary education teacher, which is my next goal after graduation.”