Student spotlight: Armond Moyo

Major: Elementary/Collaborative Education
Year of Graduation: 2014
Hometown: Nashville
Hobbies: Listening to music, reading, watching basketball games, playing Pokémon
Favorite BSC activity: Exploration Term, athletic events, SoCo spring concert festival

What specifically attracted you to Birmingham-Southern?
I first heard about the school and saw the campus in 2007 when my sister attended. I thought it was beautiful campus, and after getting a chance to meet several professors, it seemed like a good fit for me that meshed with my own philosophies and ideologies. Also, I really love the Exploration Term the school offers. In addition, I have a lot of family in Birmingham and the distance to BSC from Nashville was perfect—not too close and not too far away.

What made you want to pursue education as a major?
I had great teachers who made an impact on my life and I wanted to do the same for other students. Teaching is where my heart is, and I think I will be great at it. It is also really entertaining; NEVER a dull moment.

How has your college experience at BSC impacted you so far?
My college experience at Birmingham-Southern has definitely heped me to mature. I have grown tremendously in that area. I know that there is a time for work and there is a time to play and BSC has further instilled that into my head. My time here has also taught me that anything that is worthwhile takes time and effort.

What are you doing for this month’s Exploration Term?
I am taking the Field Ornithology (bird watching) course led by Dr. Scot Duncan. We will be spending a lot of time outdoors observing birds, rivers, and trees all over Alabama. Also, I plan on working on my education senior research project quite a bit. I am researching virtual schools and their overall effectiveness.

What are your college activities and how have you grown from participating in these?
Well, the first thing that comes to mind is my time spent with the track and field/cross country teams, respectively. When I first came to BSC, I was a student-athlete and it was a little crazy. I never had a free moment; I was either in the Caf, at practice, in class, or asleep. Now as an upperclassman, I am a representative of the SGA. But my time in athletics definitely helped me with time management and organization. Off-campus, I volunteer with Blueprints, a local mentoring program for upper high school students, through the college's Bunting Center for Engaged Study and Community Action.

How do Birmingham-Southern professors reach out to students?
The faculty use a lot of different approaches to educate students, but they all share the same common goal, which is reflected in their teaching. Because of the small classroom sizes, professors are able to have a much more personal relationship with each student. They can definitely recognize when a student is going astray, and they know how and when to get them back on track, or at least which direction to point the student in.

What would you tell a high school student about BSC?
I would definitely tell them that Birmingham-Southern is like a big family; everybody knows everybody. I would also try and drill into their young heads that there is a time for fun and a time to be serious. It’s definitely not going to be a cakewalk, but any prospective students who really want to make it at BSC will make a way.

What are your immediate plans after you graduate?
After I graduate next year, I’ll be doing lesson plans over the summer before I begin teaching elementary school, hopefully by the following fall. I’m not sure yet whether I want to stay and teach in Birmingham or Nashville or branch out west to maybe Arizona or even Oregon. I also want to coach AAU track and field in my spare time and do some junior Olympic coaching.