Christine Bodzianowski always knew she was destined for a career in education, but it wasn't until she discovered the alternative MAT program at National Louis University that her dream of becoming an Early Childhood teacher truly began to take shape. 

"I wanted to be an Early Childhood teacher that supports, loves, and brings stability to my students," says Christine. "I thought that the alternative MAT program would be a perfect fit for my busy life."

Learn More About NLU's M.A.T. in Early Childhood Education

The flexibility of being able to teach while attending classes was a major draw for Christine. "The ability to work as a teacher while earning my degree has been a huge help," she explains. "I love putting what I am learning in class immediately in my classroom."

Christine's determination to achieve her goal of becoming a board certified teacher has been unwavering, even in the face of some early challenges. "I'm 51 and started a program for a complete career change. I wanted to quit early on and had some challenges with both school and personal life, but now I'm in my 3rd term and can't wait to move forward."

One of the key factors that has helped Christine stay on track is the support she's received from the faculty at National Louis. "Professor Lee Tate has been my favorite professor," she raves. "He brings so many real life examples to the classroom. He is flexible, understands that life happens, and truly cares about his students!"

Learn More About NLU's National College of Education

Looking ahead, Christine has high hopes for her future. "My career goal is to be a Golden Apple Teacher that is Nationally Board Certified," she shares. "National Louis has helped me achieve this by providing the flexibility and variety of ways to earn my degree."

For prospective students considering National Louis, Christine has some simple but powerful advice: "Trust the process and take a chance on NLU."