Part of the 2024-25 Student Spotlight Series, featuring Nathan Sila of Elkhorn, Neb.
When Nathan Sila thinks about his biggest influence for wanting to be a teacher, he thinks of Sara Klein, a sixth-grade social studies teacher at Elkhorn Grandview Middle School. Sila, a freshman from Elkhorn, Neb., majoring in Elementary Education, is this week’s subject of the Student Spotlight Series.
While Sila didn’t have Klein as a teacher in sixth grade, it wasn’t until his senior year that Klein helped him realize that teaching might be for him.
“I was involved in the Teacher Cadet Program at Elkhorn North High School, which meant the participants are assigned a teacher to assist,” said Sila. “I was paired with Miss Klein, and I’d do a variety of things to help her, such as working with the students on introductory questions for a particular lesson to making copies and running errands.”
Sila admits his future was starting to take shape, but everything wasn’t quite in focus yet.
“During my senior year in high school, I was unsure about what I wanted to do,” said Sila. “My parents told me to look at Wayne State, so I did, and I booked a tour. I fell in love with the campus, and I was very impressed with Benthack Hall and the education instructors. I knew then that Wayne State was the place for me.”
Sila said the Career Scholars Program also played a significant role in his decision to attend Wayne State.
“Career Scholars is such a phenomenal opportunity at Wayne State, and I’m very grateful to have been chosen for the program,” said Sila. “I’m in the Norfolk cohort, so I’ll spend my senior year living there while doing my student teaching.”
In addition to Career Scholars, Sila is a member of the Wildlife Society at Wayne State.
Sila will graduate in May 2028, and he intends to pursue a teaching career in Elkhorn, Neb.