Kristina Ginnick

Age: 24

Hometown: New Paltz, NY

Occupation: Writer & Tutor/Writing Consultant, SUNY New Paltz Center for Student Success

 

So, your concentration is English.  Has that always been an interest for you?

Yes, it has.  I love words.  I have kept most of my writings from high school English class and have developed an interest in journalism since then.  Reading and writing is a big part of my life.  I was somewhat forced away from English when I decided to major in psychology, in addition to English, at Oneonta, but I think that in several ways my psych background helped lead me to the path I am currently on.

 

I can definitely see that.  How would you say that psychology can be applied to teaching and learning to be a teacher?

One way that it has helped me is I already had some background in adolescent development coming into this program.  Psych helped me develop literary analysis skills that I hope to share with students.  Working in the writing center has also helped me see the transition that lots of freshmen go through coming into college.  As a future teacher, I hope that I can help to ease that transition.

 

That’s great.  Is there anything else that led you into teaching?

I worked as a cashier at Shop Rite in town for three years.  During this time, I ended up training a lot of younger employees, 16 and 17 year olds just getting their first jobs.  Working with them and teaching them really got me interested in the idea of being a school teacher.  Also, working one-on-one with students and helping them with their writing here at New Paltz has been an excellent experience and helped to solidify that this is something I want to do.

 

Last, but not least, you’ve mentioned before that you love Shakespeare.  Can you tell me a little more about that?

I think the way that Shakespeare is taught and how many understand him is that he is a phenomenon and almost mythical.  For me, once I got a hold on the language, he was humanized and a really funny guy.  He makes fart jokes with this beautiful language and it is just amazing.  I believe that his humor can be accessible to high school students and I look forward to sharing my passion for his writings with them.

 

Kristina’s Top 5 Books (that aren’t Shakespeare):

1) The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams

2) The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood

3) The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold

4) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling

5) Stardust, Neil Gaiman