Jeremy Rose

During your senior year of high school everyone asks you, so what do you want to do with the rest of your life? Well at the beginning of my senior year of high school in 2020 I would’ve said “I intend on applying to Penn State for their animal science program.” Now up until that point I was blessed with the opportunity to job shadow several feed nutritionists in the western region of Pennsylvania and I thought it was the career for me. At the time I was confident in wanting to feed animals for farmers across Pennsylvania as well as several other eastern states. Well my senior year things began to change about my future. As I knew my senior year was winding down I was spending as much time in my final days in the ag classroom at Penns Manor. I was getting my last days of really bonding with my FFA Advisor Mr. Hughes, talking about all of the contests won and lost, speeches given, funny moments and memories that will last a life time. Throughout my time at Penns Manor Mr. Hughes always hinted to me that “ you should consider agricultural education.” Now you see my senior year I realized something, the opportunity in agriculture I was blessed with was given to me because of the National FFA organization and my advisors influence to keep us motivated and driving for nothing but success. He also noted that “the broadness of an agricultural education degree can take you anywhere you want to go, beyond the classroom and beyond Pennsylvania.” I would continue to put serious thought into those conversations and that’s when I determined that Mr. Hughes was right. When I submitted my application in fall of 2020 to become a Penn State Nittany Lion in 2021 I applied in the Agricultural and Extension Education major with a minor in Global Agriculture. Being an agricultural educator I plan to teach a lot of animal science, wildlife and forestry, Food science, plant science and Power Systems and Technology. I also plan to teach with an open mind trying to give my students opportunities within their greatest interests. I believe the biggest flaw in education is giving the students an education of something of value, and something they’ll appreciate throughout their everyday life. I hope to also hold leadership roles in the Pennsylvania Association of Agricultural Educators as well as the Pennsylvania FFA Association board of directors. Within those leadership rules as an agricultural educator I intend on trying to make a positive difference in agriculture and the agricultural education community for our students, my fellow teachers and our world.