About Me

 Abstract

        If I had to choose one word to describe my personal story it would be…Determination.  Determination is what gets me up in the morning, it’s what keeps me going, to class, to work and everything in between.  Church, friends, family, volunteering, learning new things like shooting my bow, all the above help me keep my eye on the future and my heart in the present.  My future lies right now with Manchester College and that is where I want to be.  I am determined to get my degree in Elementary Education.  I am determined to be the best person, friend and teacher I can be.  I owe this to the faculty and staff at Manchester, they create in me the determination to excel and be the best I can be.  I am determined to live my life to the fullest and to live life every day.

          My name is Erika Anna Ksiezopolski and I was born on May 14, 1990 at Elkhart General Hospital, to my parent’s Ed and Bonnie Ksiezopolski.  I don’t remember much of the early days of my life but I do remember many stories that my parents have told me over the years of the many things I have done.  Like the story of me following my big brother out the front door and down the street when I was three.  Or the time I cut my sisters hair and she had to have it cut like a boy. 

My parents Ed and Bonnie.

          I am lucky to have come from a large family.  I have three older brothers Eddie, Danny and Nathan.  Eddie went to UCLA and graduated from Berkley.  Danny went to ITT tech and now lives in Portland, Oregon.  My brother Nathan has been in the United States Coast Guard for the past six years, we are all very proud of him.  I have one older sister, her name is Karen.  I also have two younger sisters Amy who is 18, and Katie who is 11.  Karen lives in Vancouver, Washington and is working on becoming a Registered Nurse.  Amy is a freshman at Ivy Tech and Katie is a fifth grader at Claypool Elementary School.  I am a sophomore here at Manchester and I am a commuter student.  My major is Elementary Education.  My career goal is to be a third or fourth grade teacher. 

My sister Amy, myself, and my little sister Katie.

         I grew up living on a farm in Claypool, IN.  I have lived in the same house for the past fourteen years.  My family has four horses, three dogs, three cats, and many chickens, ducks, and geese, along with a pair of turkeys who everyone wants to eat for Thanksgiving but are going to win the blue ribbon at the fair this year.  I went to Madison Elementary School in Warsaw thru the sixth grade.  I enjoyed going to Madison.  I was lucky enough to have great teachers and friends.  I joined the Madison Elementary Track and Field when I was in third grade.  I participated in my events while on the track team.  I did a lot of different events including shot put, long jump, high jump, I ran on relay teams, and I ran the 400.  I also joined the school choir when I was in third grade.  I enjoyed being part of the choir.

        I went to Edgewood Middle School in Warsaw, IN.  I went there for two years.  While at Edgewood Middle school, I participated in the Running Club.  We would have Running club on Tuesday and Thursday nights.  We would run after school one or two miles based on your personal ability.  I also participated on the Edgewood Middle school track and field team.  I was awarded the Most Important Player my seventh grade year and the Most Value Player for field events my eighth grade year.

        I went to Warsaw Community High School.  In high school, I was very active in the National FFA Organization.  In 2007, I was my chapters Secretary.  And in 2008, I was my Districts Secretary.  I participated on the Parliamentary team, the Dairy foods team, and the Quiz Bowl Team.  FFA was a big part of my life; and I can honestly say it made me who I am today.  FFA provided amazing opportunities and taught me life lessons I will never forget.  Along with FFA, I was on the Gymnastics team and the Track team.  I started my track career when I was in third grade; it was by far my favorite sport.  In high school track, I threw discus and shot put.  An interesting thing I got to do my senior year was take the Emergency Medical Technician class, EMT-B.  My dad was the instructor which made it even more special.  The high school paid for the class and I was able to get my license. 

Some of my chapter members and I at the National FFA Convention, in Indianapolis. 

       I decided to go to Manchester College my senior year of high school.  Some of the reasons I chose Manchester included the fact that it was close to home.  Other things I liked about Manchester were that they had an amazing Elementary Education program.  I started out as a Pre-Nursing student but I always had my eye on the Elementary Education program.  After my freshman year at Manchester, I realized that Nursing wasn’t for me and that I did want to pursue my career path in Elementary Education. 

            My reasons for becoming a teacher; I have always enjoyed helping others, especially children.  When I was middle school, I had the opportunity to help teach Sunday school at my church.  I loved every minute of it.  In High school, I was given another opportunity to help teach children, I took a class called cadet teaching.  I was able to watch and be a part of two age groups.  I cadet taught in a fourth grade classroom at Harrison Elementary school, in Mrs. Nash’s classroom.  I also cadet taught in a seventh grade Physical Education/Health class at Lakeview Middle School. 

            In addition, to all the things I have been involved in over the years I have volunteered with many different organizations.  I volunteer every year with Winona Lake Fire Department helping with Fill the Boot to help raise money for children with Muscular Dystopia.  I have also volunteered with Multi Township Emergency Medical Services doing many different activities, 5k races, helping with state practical's, and helping at Safety Fest.  I had the best time with the kids at Lincoln Elementary, volunteering for the summer reading program for second graders.  And just recently I was able to go on a missions trip to Joplin, Missouri to help the tornado victims. 

Missions trip to Joplin, Missouri. 

      Determination could be my middle name, it spells out everything I am and who I want to be.  Determination will continue to be my best friend, without it I will not reach the goals I have set for myself in life.  Determination is my friend forever.