UNI PE major confidently embarks on student teaching
UNI PE major confidently embarks on student teaching
Following a packed experience as a University of Northern Iowa student who was involved in just about everything, Brock Trenkamp is ready for his next adventure: student teaching. He’s checking off this last requirement in Houston before becoming a physical education teacher. And while it’s a big change far away from Cedar Falls, Trenkamp admits any anxiety he is feeling is minimal.
“Overall, I'm not nervous about it because, during my last semester at UNI, there were times with my levels I was in the classroom the entire day already,” he said. “I just feel like I've been prepared really well through the PE program.”
Trenkamp’s first placement will be teaching preschool-5 PE followed by a placement at a high school. He chose Houston because his family, including two sisters who are also UNI teaching alums, live close by. UNI’s strong connections with school districts extending beyond the state of Iowa, including longtime partnerships with Houston schools, ensured that he got his first choice.
In the weeks leading up to his trip to Texas, Trenkamp worked as the director for a youth camp on UNI campus. He packed his schedule with social activities each night to soak up his final days in the place where he grew a thriving community over four years.
“The last couple days in Cedar Falls, it was kind of just me in this house, thinking, ‘Oh man, I can't believe I'm about to drive away from UNI’,” he said. “This will be the longest I'll be away from Cedar Falls since I've gotten to Cedar Falls.”
The Delhi, Iowa, native grew up visiting his older sisters on campus when they were students. He loved the dining centers and the Wellness & Recreation Center. These facilities made Cedar Falls feel like home even before it was home.
So when he was submitting college applications, UNI was an easy choice. At that point, he was considering athletic training, but by the time he began his studies, he switched to music education. Trenkamp kept this passion as a faithful member of the UNI Varsity Men’s Glee Club, but ultimately decided he would rather teach children how to stay active than direct concerts.
“I've always liked being active, and I like helping others get active,” he said. “I love learning new games so becoming a PE teacher seemed perfect. It’s a good way to help people be active and kind of coach them.”
Trenkamp made the most of every second at UNI. In addition to the Glee Club, he was in Concert Chorale, Northern Iowa Student Government, the UNI Guild of Carillonneurs and Climbing Club. He worked as an Orientation staff leader, mascot, custodian and more, making sure his community was expansive and enriched.
“I was always one person away from knowing someone,” he said. “I might not know you, but I know someone that you know.”
Being so involved also built on the skills he was learning through his classes. For example, being an Orientation leader helped him practice speaking in front of others. He was able to showcase this skill in his field experiences and grow in confidence.
“I got very familiar with talking and presenting,” he said. “A lot of the time it was me teaching 20 other college students how to play kickball or some other game. I was in that setting so often that I became used to it.”
Trenkamp believes the area where he experienced the most growth during his time at UNI is professional maturity.
“In my normal day-to-day life, most people would still describe me as quite childlike, but I'm a lot more capable now of flipping the switch, leading the room and getting something done.”
Now Trenkamp is taking everything he learned and pouring it into the classroom where he is student teaching, making a difference by building the type of community he experienced at UNI in his classroom.
“During the two weeks I'm leading PE class, I hope the students have fun with the game, and I'm able to make it work for everyone in a way that they enjoy,” he said. “I want everyone to participate and have fun.”
