Explain your career path

Right out of college I worked at Community Day School in Cape Girardeau where I was a floater and got to work in many different classrooms. After about a year I heard that Head Start in Cape Girardeau was looking for a classroom teacher who could start in two weeks. I jumped at the chance and have loved everyday.

What was your major at Southeast and how would you characterize the quality of that program to prospective students?

Early Childhood Education Birth-Third

Why did you choose to attend Southeast?

It was close to home but not so close that I didn’t feel independent. SEMO is also know for its top tier education programs.

Who influenced you most during your time at Southeast?

I loved Doc. Nguyen, who unfortunately moved colleges after my time in his classes. He was the best at seeing the good in every student he had and passed that lesson on to us all.

Share your best college memory.

In one of my classes we had a project where we had to teach an easy baking lesson to the class as if they were our elementary students. All of us got really into it and started acting like some of the crazy things we’d seen students do during field work. It was hilarious and always sticks out in my mind when I think back on my classes.

If you were in Greek Life, the Honors Program or any other student organization, please tell us about that experience and how it impacted you.

Getting my own classroom with my own students. I absolutely love my job!

What is the most important thing you learned while you were at Southeast?

Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help from those who have more experience than you, or your fellow students when you feel out of ideas. It really helped me a lot when I got into student teaching.

Describe Southeast in three words.

Time Well Spent

What advice would you give current students or recent graduates interested in pursuing a career in your professional field?

Don’t let the stresses of student teaching make you give up. Yes, teaching can be stressful, but it won’t be nearly as stressful as student teaching. If your currently looking for a job, don’t be afraid to go into different schools and ask if there is an opening face to face. It’s how I got my preschool job. It also shows confidence!