Abigail Hartley is a native of Randleman, N.C., who is a Dual Licensure: Elementary Education and Special Education major. She is expected to graduate in the spring of 2029.
Why Did you Choose UNCG?
I chose to attend UNCG because every time I visited campus it felt like a close knit community!
What is your favorite place on campus?
My favorite place on campus is under the deck of the Alumni House, it is shaded but lets sun in! It is truly beautiful.
What activities and organizations are you involved in on campus?
I am involved in the Spartan Education Scholars Program.
What experience at UNCG has had the most significant impact on you?
The experience that has impacted me the most in my time at UNCG is walking in on my first day of class and everyone being so welcoming. My time here has felt like being with family.
What has been your favorite class and why?
My favorite class so far has been my Intro in Special Education (SES 112) course! My class instantly clicked and we are all close and friends.
What are your career goals?
My goals for my career are to reach students that need special help that may not have access to it. Eventually, I would like to come back to UNCG and get my master’s. My ultimate goal is to advocate for students with special needs.
What made you want to choose a career in This Field?
I chose this career for many reasons, but the one that impacted me the most is a student I helped teach when I volunteered in high school. This student was non-verbal and he was in a classroom with neurotypical students. I had never seen this before. I don’t know why he was in this classroom; it could have been due to funding or lack of trained staff. But from then on I knew I wanted to be trained to help any student that could walk through my classroom door.
What advice would you give a student considering UNCG and the School of Education?
The advice I would give someone considering UNCG would be, you are going to meet every kind of person from every walk of life, and the campus still feels like a close family. I would encourage someone coming to the SOE that this is a huge family and the staff are your biggest supporters.
How Has the Spartan Education Scholars Program Impacted Your Experience at UNCG?
I am a first year so I’m still figuring everything out, the Spartan Education Scholars program has been so welcoming and helpful thought this process. Additionally this scholarship has allowed me to attend school and follow my dreams, and for that I couldn’t be more grateful!
If you are a School of Education student who would like to participate in our Spartan Voices series, please complete this form.
