Anna Traffanstedt

Why did you choose Dalton State? I chose Dalton State because I had heard great things about the education program. I wanted to be a part of a school that would allow me to be very involved in the community and to have opportunities to grow as a leader. I especially wanted to attend a school in an area with a large Hispanic population because my goal is to be either an ESL or a literacy teacher in a Spanish-speaking country. Dalton State is also very affordable and close to home, so I have still been able to be near my friends and family!

What does it mean to you to be part of the Roadrunner Nation? Being a part of the Roadrunner Nation means coming together with my fellow students to support our communities. Dalton State provides so many great opportunities for service projects and contributions to the people around us, which makes me very proud to be a Roadrunner.

What do you plan to do after graduation? I plan on teaching English in Spain for at least one year.

Who is/was your favorite professor and why? Dr. Lovey Mesco is my favorite professor! She is passionate about education, and her classes are always engaging and productive. She has given us so many great resources and uses class time to practice different activities, instead of just lecture. She also leads a literacy camp over the summer with education majors and was able to get a grant for the project. I have learned so much from her and will be forever thankful for how she has advocated for her students.

What are some of your biggest achievements or accomplishments at Dalton State? I was very proud to be on homecoming court this year and to be inducted into the International Education Honor Society last spring. I also work as a tutor on campus, which I absolutely love. My fellow tutors and supervisor are amazing, and I love working one-on-one with students to try to help them succeed in their classes. I also got to participate in a literacy camp with Dalton State’s education program this past summer! We spent two weeks reading different books and doing different literacy activities with elementary students in Dalton, and we all had so much fun and saw great improvement in the students.

Where is your favorite study spot? I love studying at Panera! I like to have noise around me and can never focus at home, so I always go to Panera, get some of their coffee, and write papers and study. It’s the best.

What is your best memory so far as part of the Roadrunner Nation? My best memory is being on homecoming court with my friends! The best part was getting to surprise my friend Morgan with her husband (who is a private in the army) on homecoming day. She thought her dad would be her escort and believed she wouldn’t be able to see her husband until May, but then some friends and I surprised her by flying in her husband. It was such a sweet moment and made homecoming even more special.

What is the last book you read? Because of Winn Dixie and now currently reading I Dared to Call Him Father, which I highly recommend!

Favorite comfort food? Whenever I’m having a bad day, I always go get a cookies ‘n cream milkshake from Chick-fil-A.

If you had a theme song, what would it be? “Eye of the Tiger”

If you won the lottery, what would you do? I would travel through Europe and try as much coffee and chocolate as possible.

What cheers you up? Spending time with my friends always cheers me up!

What is your favorite book? Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

What is your favorite childhood memory? When I turned 8, my dad checked me out of school to take me out to lunch, just the two of us. It’s very simple, but it meant the world to me and is still one of my favorite memories today!

If you could go back in history, who would you like to meet? I would love to meet Amy Carmichael. She was a missionary and activist in India. She rescued young girls from prostitution and helped create a home for the children she rescued. She also wrote amazing poetry, so I would love to sit down and listen to her inspirations and wisdom.

What is your favorite app? Snapchat

What did you want to be when you were a kid? I have always wanted to be a missionary and a teacher, which is still my plan today.

As a Roadrunner, what does it mean to Run Boldly? To run boldly means to give your all. It means not letting life get the best of you but working hard to do your best and fighting to succeed. It means loving others well and not being afraid to stand up for what is right. This is the kind of Roadrunner I strive to be and hope to always be wherever I go.