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| Emily Beard |
Emily Beard can remember when she first became interested in a career
in special education. “I babysat a boy with down syndrome as a high
school student, and it was a very rewarding experience,” said Beard.
“I found that I had a lot more patience for children with special
needs.”
Beard then spent a summer working with autistic children—another
rewarding experience. She then knew she wanted to seek a career in special
education.
That desire led Beard to Calvin. “I wanted a school that had a
good special education program with an emphasis in mental impairment,”
said Beard. “I looked at a number of schools, and Calvin had what
I was looking for. The fact that it was a Christian school was also a
big factor.”
Beard was also looking for a place to further her athletic career. “I
was looking to play volleyball and basketball,” she said. “I
knew I would have the opportunity to do both at Calvin.”
After spending a year at Calvin on both teams, Beard decided to focus
strictly on basketball. As a sophomore, the 6’0” forward stepped
into a starting role and maintained that spot for three years.
A senior this year, she was named to the All-MIAA second team after
averaging 9.3 points per game and finishing among the league leaders in
rebounds and blocked shots. Beard finished her collegiate career with
547 rebounds, tied for fourth on the Calvin career-rebound list.
“When I was in high school, I was able to get rebounds simply because
I was taller than most of the players,” said Beard, who prepped
at Southfield (Mich.) Christian High School. “At the collegiate
level, I found that I had to work a lot harder to get rebounds and couldn’t
just rely on my height.
“I found out that rebounding really comes down to effort and desire,”
she continued. “You may have a game where your shots aren’t
falling, but rebounding is always something you can control through your
effort and desire.”
With her playing career behind her, Beard will turn her attention to
her academic pursuits. She is currently student teaching at the Lincoln
Development Center working with elementary-age children with special needs.
In the fall, Beard will complete her student teaching at Alexander Elementary
School.
“I really feel that God is calling me into a special education
career,” said Beard. “I wake up every day with a sense of
excitement because of the children I work with.” |
