It was a brisk fall morning when Matt Bourke first visited Mizzou. A student tour guide walked him and his parents all around campus, pointing out landmarks from Mizzou’s historic past, along with a few of the guide’s own personal favorite gems. For every one of his dad’s questions, no matter how ridiculous, the tour guide had an answer. These were the type of people Bourke knew he wanted to surround himself with.
“As cliché as it may sound, I wanted to be at Mizzou from the moment I stepped on campus,” Bourke said. “No one in my family had ever attended an SEC school, or traveled as far south from Chicago as I have for college. Even so, Mizzou felt like home right away. It was a school where I knew I could thrive.”
Now a junior in the MU College of Education, Bourke studies secondary language arts education. Thanks to the Office of Field Experiences, Bourke has been teaching in real classrooms and getting experience working with students since the first semester of his sophomore year.
“Mizzou Education sets up its students to be well rounded, culturally competent and experienced teachers,” Bourke said. “Everything Mizzou does has the end goal of ensuring students are successful, regardless of their path or major. I will be forever grateful to the faculty and staff who work so tirelessly to ensure every student succeeds.”
If he could give one piece of advice to prospective students it would be to visit campus.
“Hop in the car with family or friends. If a road trip is out of the question, buy a plane ticket. Take the train if you have to, just make sure to come visit,” Bourke said. “We’ll show you why this school is one of the best campuses in the country. If you come and see Mizzou for yourself, you’ll feel at home. I know I did.”
For those that can't make the trip, Bourke recommends the online virtual tour which allows people to see campus from anywhere in the world.
Matt Bourke (far right) is a member of It's On Us Mizzou, a group dedicated to ending sexual assault on college campuses. This year the group worked with Chancellor Cartwright to sign the It's On Us pledge.
