My name is Teresa Lazzari and I am currently in my junior year as a mathematical economics major here at the University of Kentucky, where I will graduate in May of 2017 and pursue a career as an actuary.  I was born and raised in Florence, KY where I graduated from Boone County High School class of 2013. My parents, Jim and Mary Lazzari have four children, I being the youngest.  My oldest brother, Blake is currently married to his high school sweetheart, Becky and are living in Dubai for a couple of years due to work.  My other brother, Nick is currently in Indiana working on his PGA certification at a golf course.  My sister, Gina is graduating this May from nursing school here at UK, where she will be working post-graduation. My sister and I live together down here in Lexington. I am an active member of Kappa Delta Sorority on campus, where I spend most of my time. Being in a sorority takes up a lot of my time outside of class, but I still manage to keep up personal hobbies such as running, drawing and playing with dogs.

Choosing a college was tough, but I eventually had it narrowed down between UK and the University of Cincinnati.  Both of my parents are alumnae from UC and obviously wanted me to go there.  However, all of my siblings, including my in-law have all went to UK. I visited UC before seeing UK and thought I wanted to stay in my city.  But from the moment I stepped foot on UK’s campus, there was something that felt like home.  I don’t know whether it was just the gorgeous day that hooked me in or the beautiful red brick building contrasting the lush green grass on the campus but UC’s campus did not compare.

For the last four semesters, I have been an Undergraduate Assistant for the Math Department.  I work with the Math Excel Program, which is a program designed for specific sections of Calculus I and II. Within the program, students have recitations, just like every other section but instead of meeting twice a week for 50 minutes, they meet three times a week for 90 minutes.  With this extra time in recitation, students get more time to practice the concepts learned in lecture.  I am there to assist the Teaching Assistant with helping the students work through the problems. Our main objective is to make them think about the question, and not just give them the answer. We make sure to ask them what methods they have tried, and what they techniques they have learned in class that might be useful.

My employment has prepared me for the future with my communication skills and analytical skills. Being an Undergrad assistant has kept my mind sharp and fresh when it comes to calculus I and II, which will be very useful in pursuing a career in actuarial science.  It has also made me approach problems in different mind aspects, which better my problem solving skills.

My greatest achievement as a UK student is growing confidence in myself. Coming into college, I was very overwhelmed being a tadpole in an ocean.  Luckily, my second semester I had found my home at UK in Kappa Delta. There, the women saw the bright potential that I did not see in myself and with that help and encouragement; I was able to find my path in life and a future that I am eager to pursue.