Q&A: NC State education major Alex Atchison

I always knew that I wanted a career in which I could work with and help people. Originally I was planning on going into rehabilitation therapy until my father told me that working with children brings out the best possible version of me, and from that point on a really couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else with my future.

NCSU college of Education has a reputation of going above and beyond to support their students in the journey to become educators and so far they are living up to this expectation.

Right now I am interning in a local Kindergarten classroom and I feel like I have found my niche. I love seeing the kiddos passion for learning and their genuine love and kindness for others. I feel right at home among 5 year olds in other words and would love to be able to teach this grade in the future.

I am definitely keeping my options open about where I am going to teach, I feel like where I get a job will be a big factor. I would like to ultimately like to go ‘home’ to the Mid-West but will most likely end up staying in NC at least until I get some teaching experience under my belt.

I would say where I can get a job in a school system where I can not only support myself but continue to LOVE what I do. Monetary reasons are, as I think many of my classmates would agree, the LAST thing considered about this career choice. I know that I am getting into teaching because working with children is my passion thus I believe becoming an educator is my true calling. Personally, my desires to leave NC are based solely on the fact that I still view the North as home but I do know many young teachers consider leaving the state to be able to support themselves.

I worry almost daily that I will not be a good teacher because it is such an important job. I want to be able to put the children at the center of their educational experiences and create an environment where EVERY child feels capable, valued, and loves to learn. I am worried that the increasing amount of testing and pressures will take away from this experience. I hope that I will be able to find a balance between the crucial academic aspect of school and the, equally as important, social curriculum.

I think that there is such a negative perception of people going into the field of education. I think this social stigma needs to be addressed! Teachers are some of the most dedicated, passionate, and enduring individuals I know. Part of this view of teachers does come from negative attention that teaching receives. No one wants to go into a profession where they are constantly hearing things like “I wish I was in education; it must be so easy” or the fear that you will burn out within the first few years. I think there needs to be some changes to the system but I also think someone needs to talk about how rewarding and influential teaching is.

I want to get into teaching because I love who I am when working with children. I may not be getting payed very much in the traditional sense but I am looking forward to an emotional bank account filled with love, learning, and "teacher candy moments."