One of the many great things about Elizabethtown College is the community built by students. Michaela Taylor is one of Etown’s early childhood education majors and loves being a part of the community on campus. Etown strives to create an inclusive environment for students, and education majors in particular have created a lasting impact at Etown. 

Taylor is part of the class of 2027 and is eagerly anticipating graduation to start teaching. Originally, she wanted to become an art teacher after a high school teacher inspired her. She wanted to make an impact on students. “He guided me to my love for teaching and I wanted to make a difference just like he did,” Taylor said, referring to her high school teacher. 

Still pursuing a degree in education, Taylor is now an early childhood education major and still looks forward to making a difference in students’ lives. She hopes to pay homage to her teacher through her career. 

Taylor is part of Etown’s education department, which helps students plan for teaching by placing them in school and teaching students to harbor an inclusive environment. In her current methods placement, Taylor gets to experience full time teaching and immerse herself in the education field. While challenging, methods placements prepare education majors for real-world experiences and require lesson planning and proper time management to prepare them for teaching. 

The education department strives to fully prepare Etown students for when they step into the classroom as educators, and has received special recognition for its excellence in multidisciplinary education. Students develop a professional portfolio and experience to build an impressive career before they acquire a teaching certificate. Taylor is glad to be an education major at Etown and experience first hand what it is like to be a teacher.  

Outside of school, Taylor has a tight schedule. You can find her at the Elizabethtown Giant where she works as a checkout coach, counting money and closing the store. She has worked there for over four years and is one of the most valued employees at Giant food stores. She keeps a balanced work and school life and keeps herself busy.  

She is also a mom to two guinea pigs Galileo, who is 6 years old, and Pablo, who is 4 years old. Her guinea pigs are her pride and joy, keeping her grounded from her busy college life. Taylor’s hobbies include drawing, painting and cooking. “I love making portraits of people’s pets and making healthy dishes to manage my family and their health issues,” Taylor said. Art is an important part of Taylor’s life, as it inspires her to create.  

One of the many students at Etown who are passionate and driven, Taylor thrives on campus and is focused on her career as a teacher. She says her favorite thing about Etown is how connected everyone is.“I love coming on campus and seeing how everyone is so encouraging to one another,” she said.  

Taylor is a commuter but tries to stay involved as she can. She likes spending time with friends on campus. She grew up in Etown and loves the area. 

Etown doesn’t only have the college as its main attraction, there are many things for college students to do and stores to visit at a walkable distance. Etown has a small-town feel with scenic sights and a close-knit community.  

Taylor is part of the dedicated community of Etown students who make campus special. She loves being an early childhood education major at Etown as well as helping people. Outside of college, she enjoys her hobbies and her job. Her passion shows through her hard work, and she will go on to inspire others when she graduates and starts teaching.