To get an idea of where I am from without reading my entire autobiography below, check out my Where I'm From Poem with professor comments to quickly get to know me!      

             A small town is a great place for an individual to grow and become a well-rounded individual.  I speak from personal experience.  I grew up in the small town of Morocco, Indiana and through life I embraced victories, struggles, joys, and disappointments and allowed them to mold me into the woman I am today.   Being surrounded by family and a strong community has only added to who I am as well.   Manchester is another small town and a great place for me to continue to grow in knowledge, perspective, experience, and professionalism to contribute to the loving and passionate person that I already am.   I love finding the answers to the unknown and soon I will be sharing my passion to enrich the lives of others through the wonderful field of education. 

             I was born on the twelfth day of the twelfth month in Lima, Ohio.  The year was 1990.  I have many fond memories of my life in Ohio.  This is where I spent the early years of my childhood.  Although this was a significant portion of my life, the way I picture my youth all begins with the time when my family moved back to the small town of Morocco, Indiana in 1997 so that we could be closer to the extended members of our family.  My mother used to say to me, "You grow where you are planted," and it was exactly true.  I was planted in that tiny little town surrounded by corn and soybean and that is where I flourished.

            Growing up in a miniscule town may seem to have disadvantages -but this common accusation is entirely false.   I have spent nearly ten years of my life living on a small farm, in a small town, in a small county.  This only provided huge possibility.  In my eyes, community is key.   Being involved in one's community helps one become a well-rounded individual, and a valued member of that community.   I learned this and lived by this as I became involved in various activities and groups in my community.  I participated in 4-H and was a successful 10-year member, I spent much volunteered time as a math tutor at my high school, I also took classes in local art festivals, and I always made a valiant effort at being an active community member.  Due to my participation in community affairs, I learned many valuable skills: how to win and lose gracefully, responsibility, the rewards of hard-work, and as equally important is the importance of the people that one is surrounded by and how to be the type of person these people can feel proud to know.

            Aside from my community members, the even more central part of my life, are the members of my own family.  I can gladly say I am the youngest daughter with two, now independent, prosperous, and loving older brothers.  They are Britton, the oldest, and Kevin, the middle child.  The three of us share our supportive parents, Matthew and Cynthia Wiseman.  All around me in the small town I claim as my own, live people who care about me.  Down the street, literally less than five miles away from my own house, one could meet the homes of my grandparents, two sets of aunts and uncles, and six of my cousins.  Needless to say, I am a very family-oriented person who sees those whom some would consider "distant" relatives, typically more than once a week. There is nothing "distant" about my close-knit family.

            All throughout my adolescent years since the time I moved to Indiana to be closer to my family, I have been encircled with an amazing support system.  Being surrounded by caring family members has aroused many of the greatest joys of my life.  I enjoy spending time with family because having family all around is like having a safety net that never disappears or lets one fall.  They are always there with open arms and many times they lovingly share, sometimes invited and sometimes uninvited,  their wisest advice.  I was able to grow up with my cousins as my best friends, and am now able to share with them as they grow in their own families.  The ones I used to play dress-up and doctor with are now having children of their own.  The enjoyment gained  from being a part of these precious little-one's lives only continues to grow as the years progress.

            All throughout my years in school, from elementary to high school, I always strived to do my best, and I know I always will in any future endeavor.  I enjoy solving the unknown and helping others do the same, hints why I want to become a teacher.  I graduated in the top of my class and it was not always easy.  One of my biggest struggles was faced when I was up for the Lilly Scholarship my senior year.  I filled out the application forms and then I wrote my essay.  I remember pouring myself over it trying to add every bit of me into that space requirement that I possibly could.  I even included my favorite quote by my mother, "you grow where you are planted."  -I became a finalist!  I could not believe it, me, and there were only three finalists in total.  After becoming a finalist, the most difficult part I knew for me was yet to come -the interview.  The Lilly Scholarship is a full ride, and due to the economy, I desperately wanted it.  To add even more pressure, only two years before my brother, Kevin, had won the very same prestigious scholarship and took it to Purdue University where he excelled.   Even before him by two years, my older cousin had been honored with the very same scholarship.  My parents spent days preparing me for the interview.  They even interviewed me with a video-camera so we could watch it like football footage before a big game.  The same types of measures were being taken out at my school as a group of my teachers did a mock interview to help prepare me for what awaited me in a small and intimidating conference room.  Despite how much I had prepared and how much I thought I had earned the right to it, I did not earn the scholarship.  Someone else must have prepared just a little bit more.  I did not receive this immense gift after so much of my sweat, brainpower, and time had been put into it.  In the end after much disappointment, I felt selfish and unappreciative for not realizing all the joy I have in my life, and how much more there was out there waiting for me.  I would make it to college no matter what.

            For example, taking a dramatic turn of events, some of the most rewarding time I ever spent in high school was spent as a competitive cheerleader.  My team and I would come together, sometimes six times a week, and work toward our common goal of becoming champions and we truly did achieve our goal.  Aside from the time I spent practicing for competitions and taking gymnastics classes to better myself for my team, I spent my Fridays and Saturdays supporting various teams in my school: the basketball team, the football team, the volleyball team, the swimming team, and even the wrestling team.  I started as a freshman on varsity and year-after-year I watched as teammates fell out of the sport that I love and still participate in today.  I never lost my dedication.   Fulfilling my commitment to my coach and to my team, regardless of the long practices, early practices, or bruises I encountered, and never giving up on it was a huge victory in my life thus far.  I learned so much and was rewarded with trophies and medals.  Not even those are what made it such a sweet victory.  It was not even winning nationals that made it so worthwhile.  No.  It was sticking to something even though it was hard because I truly loved it. 

            Becoming a college cheerleader is only one of the reasons I chose to attend Manchester.  I wanted to continue the sport I love and also be a part of a team at my college.  Also, Manchester attracted me with its beauty.  It is an exquisite campus and I appreciate the blossoming or colorful trees every day as I stroll to class.  Manchester reeled me in with its enticing small school atmosphere.  It is what I am accustomed to and I wanted to attend a school where I would be able to gain individual attention from professors.  Another major point as to why I chose Manchester College as the school for me is because I received the Trustee Scholarship, which was very helpful in my decision making process.  Lastly, I love Manchester because it is here where my significant other of four years, Ian Reed, resides and is propelling toward a career in medicine. 

            The community I come from has molded me into such a diverse person with many interests and talents. Being surrounded by supportive people who know and care about me has added a colossal piece to the puzzle that makes up who I am.   I grew in the small town in which I was planted and will continue to do the same here at Manchester in this small and welcoming town.  From the struggles of school, the disappointments encountered, and the victories I have achieved, that town I come from created the woman I am today and I will continue to take these important lessons I learned and apply them day-after-day as I strive to be the best person that I can be.