Literature graduate Tecara Moyer may be leaving her undergrad behind when she crosses the stage at commencement, but she won’t be leaving UCCS. The English major is returning to campus next semester to pursue her master’s in Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education.
“I am excited for what my graduate degree entails,” Tecara shared. “I originally chose English for my major since English always came relatively easy to me in high school, and I wanted to become a better reader and writer. While in the program, editing and teaching developed into passions of mine.”
Tecara is a transfer student who joined UCCS from Pikes Peak State College two years ago.
“I decided to take a gap year as a result of COVID-19 and earned my associate degree at Pikes Peak State College,” explained Tecara. “It has been a wonderful and quick two years since I transferred!”
During her time at UCCS, Tecara has been a Reisher scholar and has worked at the Multiliteracy Center, where she often helped host events or supported friends and coworkers hosting theirs. She also noted how impactful faculty were in her college career, especially Professor Steve Carter, Ph.D., English Associate Professor and Department Chair.
“Professor Carter has had a significant impact on me,” Tecara said. “Until his class, I had never been simultaneously as challenged and supported as I was during his course. My skills as a writer evolved in ways I never knew possible. He taught me to ask questions of myself and my writing that drove my understanding of careful analysis and to notice the finest details that I had been missing within my papers. I came out of his class a deeper thinker, a better analyst and a more comprehensive writer.”
While Tecara won’t be saying goodbye to campus, she’ll miss those who are while she continues her education.
“I am feeling nervous and behind on all my homework as we head toward commencement,” she laughed. “I will miss the friends I have made at UCCS the most! Although I am not leaving, my undergraduate degree has provided me the opportunity to meet some truly amazing people that I would never have met outside of school.”
“One of my favorite memories during my time at UCCS was studying with friends in the library,” Tecara added. “Three of us were trying, badly, to study in one of the private rooms. My friend’s six-year-old daughter that was coloring alongside us was doing her best to keep us on track, but no work got done that day. It was such a mundane moment, but with the right people became one of the most special moments of my undergrad!”
Looking beyond her graduate journey, Tecara hopes to eventually work in education as a full-time teacher while editing novels on the side. With her passion for literature, it’s no surprise that she enjoys reading in her spare time, along with playing video games and spending time with friends.
Tecara left fellow undergraduate students with advice to be as involved on campus as possible.
“Join clubs, study at the library, utilize the dozens of free resources like the excel centers, or even find a job on campus!” she urged. “The time flies, and there is no other experience like college after graduation.”