Noyce Scholar Profile
Serena Olivi
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, grades 9-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
University of South Carolina
Current academic or teaching status:
Senior
School and school district:
Dreher High School
Background:
I am from Summerville, SC and a senior at the University of South Carolina majoring in mathematics.
Why do you want to teach:
I have a desire to help others and have always seen myself becoming a teacher in order to impact students. I actually began college as a pre-pharmacy major with the sole mindset of helping others. The field did not satisfy me as much as my past experience with kids and students did, so I chose to go back to what I truly wanted to do.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
I was teaching a lesson on interest rates. A young female student, who I was aware was greatly struggling in the course, spoke in the middle of my visual representation of the lesson stating that she actually understood this and felt she finally got math. That moment for me, the light bulb that students get, is the highlight of teaching because I know I’ve made a difference no matter how slight.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
I feel more connected to students like me. It’s not helpful being with other math majors when they have different career goals. So I really enjoy having that time with students who are in the same boat as I am in addition to getting the inside scoop on the classroom from experienced teachers who speak at our meetings.
