Our latest Student Spotlight features Ian Van der Zwan, a student in the online MS in School Counseling program.
Passionate about helping and motivating others, Ian Van der Zwan is part of the MS in School Counseling program within the College of Education. He says that he appreciates Oregon State University’s Ecampus hybrid model. It allows him to work full-time, coach youth soccer, and enjoy being a newlywed while taking courses online and meeting instructors and fellow cohort members face-to face twice each term.
Ian, who doesn’t consider himself technologically savvy, worried that the online component would be difficult and intimidating. Yet, he has found it to be quite the opposite and credits his wonderful instructors for creating a model that is so manageable.
Another aspect of the program that Ian was pleasantly surprised by was the various backgrounds of the other students in his cohort. "Everyone brings something valuable to the table, and I have learned so much from the life experiences shared by those in my courses."
When Ian graduates with his master’s degree in counseling in three years, he hopes to work at the middle school level and show students how important it is to always be willing to learn, respect others, and believe in themselves.