Memories have a nostalgic charm that carries us back to a time when opportunities appeared limitless and aspirations were abundant. We come to focus on educators as we move through our educational environment, their youthful selves captured in photos. We explore an essential question within this journey: Did teaching always follow their intended course, or did fate take them in unanticipated directions? Read along on a trip through personal histories where the realities of shaping young brains and youthful dreams collide.
In this article, we will be interviewing multiple teachers and staff, reflecting on a time when they were in a position similar to ours and exploring the progress they’ve made throughout their lives to become the educators we see today. I will be asking a series of questions and collecting responses from all of these teachers.
Ms. Ayala has taught Algebra 1, Algebra 1 Honors, Geometry, Geometry Honors, Robotics 1, and Robotics 2.
How many years have you been teaching? “This is my 13th year teaching.”
How was your teenage life in terms of how you saw your future career path? “I was very focused as a teenager. I attended an all girl Catholic high school, so I was in a strict environment. When I was growing up, education, getting good grades, success, and studying were seen as a priority and extremely important. It was a normal expectation that after high school you attend college.”
Can you relate any of your teenage past to current teenagers? “I could definitely relate my past to what current teenagers are experiencing. I remember the peer pressures, relationships, drama, friendships (gained and lost). I remember having to balance school work with having a social life. I remember wanting to be an adult and being able to do what I want and make my own decisions. I feel like every adult remembers experiencing these kinds of things growing up. I remember thinking that all of the issues I faced during high school, at the time seemed so important and dramatic. Reflecting on it all, I am giggling about how silly some of these things were and that there are more important and pressing issues in our lives.”
As a teenager, did you always believe you would pursue a career as an educator? “Yes, I always wanted to be a teacher.”
What moment made you realize that you did or didn’t want to pursue a career as an educator? “I feel that as a young child, entering school at only 3-4 years old, the person you look up to, trust, feel comfortable with and is impressed by (outside of your home) is your teacher. I knew I wanted to be that role model to others and I wanted students to feel that way about me. Growing up, I had a lot of really great teachers that made a memorable impression and who I still remember. I wish my students feel the same way and I could be a part of their education journey in any positive and memorable way.”
Do you still want to continue being an educator, or would you like to change your career, if possible? “Yes, I’d like to continue being an educator. I feel like theres so much more for me to learn and to grow as a teacher.”
What would you say are the great challenges facing high school graduates today? “I believe that the greatest challenge I and many teachers face is the disruption and balance of cell phone use within the classroom. Additionally, I think that due to the pandemic, there are some social issues that arise within the classroom, where students either don’t or refuse to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and ideas with both their peers and me.”
Mr. Bernardi, a Global Studies teacher, who teaches AP World and College Now Sociology.
How many years have you been teaching? “This is my 22nd year teaching at FDR.”
How was your teenage life in terms of how you saw your future career path? “I had three distinct paths that I was sure I was going to follow. One was that I was going to be a famous photographer, another was that I thought I was going to work at the UN. The problem was, I only spoke English and bad Italian. The third path was that I was going to become a teacher, but not a social studies teacher—maybe an English teacher.”
Can you relate any of your teenage past to current teenagers? “In some ways, there are similarities, but as a teenager, I was very active both inside and outside of school. I’ve always had a job since I was 12 years old, and I participated in many school clubs and organizations. Additionally, I was actively involved in the music scene, but not as a musician— I was more of a scenester (someone who is actively involved in a particular social or cultural scene, often associated with music, fashion, or the arts) who attended a lot of band performances.”
As a teenager, did you always believe you would pursue a career as an educator? “Partially, it was second on the list. I have always considered teaching because I enjoyed school. Although it wasn’t my number one option, I always contemplated it. At the time, my mind was set on studying photography, and I envisioned a career path similar to that of Lars Tunbjörk, Richard Sandler, or Cindy Sherman.”
What moment made you realize that you did or didn’t want to pursue a career as an educator? “Taking history classes in college, I found myself gravitating towards history, and photography became more of a hobby.”
Do you still want to continue being an educator, or would you like to change your career, if possible? “Yes, I am very happy with what I am doing. Teaching has become a part of my personality. In addition to teaching, I also volunteer at the Brooklyn Museum, give tours, and work on the beach educating people on endangered species with the New York City Piping Plover Project.”
What would you say are the great challenges facing high school students today? “I believe that cell phone usage and social media consumes too much of teenagers’ time, causing them to fixate on problematic issues. Additionally, social media has the potential to distort their world view.”
Mr. Eisenberg, an Honors and Regents Chemistry teacher.
How many years have you been teaching? “I have been teaching for 3 years at the high school level, and before that, I was a college TA (teacher’s assistant) at Binghamton University for 4 years.”
How was your teenage life in terms of how you saw your future career path? “It was very open. When I was a teenager or in high school, I knew that I wanted to study science, but I left it open to the specific field of science I would specialize in and what I would do. I think it’s a good move to allow yourself that freedom and to discover more about the subject.”
As a teenager, did you always believe you would pursue a career as an educator? “It was always one option; it wasn’t strictly how I saw myself in the future. However, I’ve always entertained the possibility, even as a teenager. Currently, it is the possibility that I enjoy the most.”
What moment made you realize that you did or didn’t want to pursue a career as an educator? “I would say it was probably when I took my first college class for my education minor. Specifically, an introduction to special education opened my eyes to how our society treats disability. It also sparked my interest in what constitutes good teaching and what makes a good teacher. In that moment, that minor class made me realize my desire to become a teacher.”
Do you still want to continue being an educator, or would you like to change your career, if possible? “No, I don’t think I would change the past trajectory of my journey at all. I like the path I took. I think it shaped some of my views on education. If I had taken any alternate life pathway, I wouldn’t appreciate who I am and what I am doing, so I would keep it as is.”
What would you say are the great challenges facing high school graduates today?“Smartphones. I don’t mean that in an insulting way, they’re a very recent invention that’s affecting people of all ages. It’s hard to focus on one thing in front of you when you also have a magic crystal ball that shows you any text, pictures, music, videos, and games you want. If working at a school has taught me anything though, it’s that children are clever and creative. If anyone can solve this problem, I think it’ll be this generation.”
Mr. Gottleib, the Assistant Principal of Pupil Personnel Services.
How many years have you been serving at FDR? “I have served as both a guidance counselor and an assistant principal for 21 years at FDR.”
How was your teenage life in terms of how you saw your future career path? “I was a student here at FDR high school, and during that time there was a business program here at FDR, and I was a part of that program. It was a big program. I took all the business classes that I could, and I decided I was going to go to college and get my business degree. I did 4 years of college and got my business degree, and just before I went to graduate college, I wanted to get my masters. I applied to business programs, but the MBA program wanted me to have real world business experience first. Since I was working at my college, Hofstra University, I decided to apply to a counseling program, and I enjoyed the counseling program- and that is how I ended up being a guidance counselor and not going onto the business program.”
Can you relate any of your teenage past to current teenagers? “When I was at FDR, I was a good student. I worked hard in my classes, and I was very involved in school as well, a lot of clubs and a lot of activities. Just as I was that type of student, I see the same students here who care very much about their studies, are very involved in their studies, and wanna have a great time here at FDR.”
As a teenager, did you always believe you would pursue a career as an educator? “No, I didn’t, I thought I was going into business. I was a part of the FDR business program, and my grandpa was a very big supporter of me going into business. In fact, when I told my family that I wasn’t going into business, I was most worried about my grandpa and how he would take the news. But in the end, he supported me, and it ended up going well.”
What moment made you realize that you did or didn’t want to pursue a career as an educator? “It goes back to just before I was going to graduate from college. Knowing that I wasn’t going to pursue business, because I couldn’t get into a business program, when the school counselor accepted me into the counselor program, I knew that was my calling. Then, I came back to FDR and pursued a career as a guidance counselor. My old teachers welcomed me back and allowed me to work as a guidance counselor here.”
Do you still want to continue being an educator, or would you like to change your career, if possible? “I am very happy with the path that I chose. I love working with students. As a guidance counselor, I spend a lot of time supporting students’ mental health, and I still do that now by supporting the guidance counselors. I find it to be a rewarding experience, and I don’t regret switching from business education at all.”
What would you say are the great challenges facing high school graduates today? “High school graduates don’t fully understand the preparation needed to get a job in the careers that they’re searching for or want to be a part of, and I think that oftentimes students are in for a rude awakening and discover that these careers require much more than they anticipated. What I ask of our graduates is to prepare even earlier, and to discover what careers are there and how they can prepare- so, that they can make decisions from graduation to college to be ready for their supposed career.”
Mr. Hafner, an English teacher and a Roller Coaster Enthusiast.
How many years have you been teaching at FDR? “I have been teaching for 9 years at FDR.”
How did you perceive your future career path during your teenage years? “Personally, during that time, I was uncertain about my life’s direction. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I started to develop an interest in the literature I was reading. This newfound passion led me to pursue an English major in college.”
Can you relate any of your teenage past to current teenagers? “Yeah, I think, for most teenagers, there are a lot of expectations for them to make very mature decisions. For someone who is young and doesn’t have a lot of experience, that is a lot of pressure, and I think that was also the case when I was a teenager. But it seems like your current generation is under more pressure. My advice would be not to stress yourself since you can always change your career path.”
Do you still want to continue being an educator, or would you like to change your career if possible? If so, to what? “No, I’ve been a teacher for almost 10 years now. I would still make the same decision. I enjoy being in a classroom and working with young people.”
As a teenager, did you always believe you would pursue a career as an educator? “No, I did not when I was a teenager. The last thing I wanted to do was become a teacher because my parents were teachers, and I did not want to pursue the same career as my parents. I wanted to pursue a career as a writer or as a professor in a college. I enjoyed reading, and I felt like I was pretty good at writing, not that it was easy, but that I would receive compliments from teachers about my writing.”
What moment made you realize that you did or didn’t want to pursue a career as an educator? “I worked in book publishing, although I thought it had more to do with enjoying books. It was just an office job, and I realized I didn’t like working in an office since it did not allow me to have a lot of freedom. Teaching seemed like the best option since I could be more creative in my job. At the age of 31 I decided to talk to my parents about their careers. I decided to pursue a career as an educator and work with young minds about a subject I enjoyed teaching.”
Did anyone influence you to make such a decision? “My environment influenced me to make such a decision since my experience with book publishing was very limiting, making me reconsider my career choice. My parents had helped me come to the decision of becoming a teacher.”
What would you say are the great challenges facing high school graduates today? “One of the greatest challenges facing high school graduates today seems to be fighting against insecurities created by the fantastical expectations set by the social media they are constantly inundated with against the, sometimes hard, realities of the world they actually live in.”
Ms. Karagach, a School Guidance Counselor.
How many years have you been serving at FDR? “I have been serving for 31 years as a school counselor.”
How was your teenage life in terms of how you saw your future career path? “I knew, without a doubt (since in 5th grade) that I wanted to be a school counselor. It was a calling. On some occasions, I dabbled with becoming a chef…but the counseling won by a landslide.”
Can you relate any of your teenage past to current teenagers? “Although times are very different, the issues teens deal with stay the same. They are growing, evolving, thinking about their future career paths, navigating relationships and identity. Discovering self. I think teens have it more difficult these days as they also have social media to deal with.”
As a teenager, did you always believe you would pursue a career as an educator? “Always.”
What moment made you realize that you did or didn’t want to pursue a career as an educator? “I think I always knew that I want to be a school counselor. In 5th grade, our school counselor came in to our classroom and facilitated activities. I had so much fun with them. That day, I told her I want to have a job like hers, and started asking many questions. In JHS and HS, I was a peer counselor through the SPARK program. I also volunteered in a shelter as a peer counselor.”
Do you still want to continue being an educator, or would you like to change your career, if possible? “My school counselor made an impact, as she came in, and made the classroom an open, accepting and fun place. I wanted to recreate that.”
Mr. Klecan, an English and AP Literature teacher.
How many years have you been teaching? “I am starting my 24th year in total.”
How was your teenage life in terms of how you saw your future career path? “As a teenager, I was slightly disoriented, and I excelled in art. My mom encouraged me to attend art school, and I agreed because it was something I was good at. I was involved in a variety of activities when I was younger. In my early 20s, I realized that I preferred literature and transferred to Stony Brook, where I began to enjoy literature.”
Can you relate any of your teenage past to current teenagers? “There is always common ground in adolescent years, but I feel like kids today are more open-minded and develop earlier. They seem to be more socially aware than when I went to school, showing a greater maturity in some ways.”
As a teenager, did you always believe you would pursue a career as an educator? “At that time I was thinking more about art and hadn’t figured out a career path yet.”
What moment made you realize that you did or didn’t want to pursue a career as an educator? “When I was at Stony Brook, I began to get more interested in literature. Although I am an introvert, I come from a big family and a family of teachers—my grandparents were teachers—I realized that despite my shyness, I was good with people and wanted to work with them.”
Do you still want to continue being an educator, or would you like to change your career, if possible? If so, to what? “I still really enjoy teaching, especially AP Literature. In retirement, I plan to finish my training as a psychoanalyst. It’s something I’d like to pursue after retiring from teaching.”
What would you say are the great challenges facing high school graduates today? “I think there is too much pressure to have your whole life figured out by the time you graduate. It takes most people a bit longer to figure themselves out and that’s perfectly fine.”
Ms. Kuang, who is an Algebra II, Algebra I, and Geometry teacher. She was also the advisor for the Origami Club.
How many years have you been teaching at FDR? “I have been teaching for 20 years at FDR.”
How was your teenage life in terms of how you saw your future career path? “When I was younger than a teenager, I believed teachers were perfect and viewed them as role models. However, as a teenager, I moved here for high school, and my perspective changed. I observed some students misbehaving and lacking respect. In China, we have very strict rules, and there is a strong cultural emphasis on respecting teachers. Additionally, language posed a significant challenge for me, making it difficult to pursue a career as a teacher.”
Can you relate any of your teenage past to current teenagers? “As a teenager, I often found myself overwhelmed by the substantial course load. Coming to the U.S. during my teenage years, I faced the additional challenge of not understanding English well. Consequently, I can empathize with the struggles of English learners, understanding firsthand how difficult it can be to learn the language, find a sense of belonging, and navigate through the experience of culture shock.”
As a teenager, did you always believe you would pursue a career as an educator? “Not always; at times, when I was younger, I aspired to become a teacher. However, during my teenage years, my career aspirations underwent a shift. I found myself uncertain about my future and explored various career options. It was in college that I discovered my passion for math. Given the limited number of majors solely dedicated to math, I ultimately chose to become a math teacher.”
What moment made you realize that you did or didn’t want to pursue a career as an educator? “While in college, I worked in the tutoring center, assisting fellow students with math. During this period, I experienced immense joy witnessing others grasp the concepts I taught. The sense of productivity and the meaningful impact of helping others made this experience particularly fulfilling.”
Do you still want to continue being an educator, or would you like to change your career, if possible? “Yes, I remain committed to becoming an educator because I believe no other careers or jobs can provide the same level of happiness derived from helping children and witnessing their growth.”
What would you say are the great challenges facing high school graduates today? “The significant challenge lies in motivating students who lack the drive to learn or lose interest in their own education. Furthermore, the growing prevalence of students addicted to their cell phones, coupled with shyness that impedes interaction with others, adds to the complexity. Frustration arises as educators often desire to offer more support, but perceive limitations in their ability to do so. Scheduling constraints sometimes hinder individual interactions with students, leaving limited time to go beyond academic teachings and truly understand them as individuals.”
Mr. Poska, the AP of the English/Arts Department, and the head of the Theater Program.
How many years have you been teaching at FDR? “I have been teaching for about 30 years at FDR High School.”
How was your teenage life in terms of how you saw your future career path? “I had no idea that I would become a teacher. I worked for the Board of Education before entering the teaching profession. Eventually, I became an English teacher at FDR and then the AP of the English Department.”
Can you relate any of your teenage experiences to current teenagers? “Yeah, as a teenager even today, kids often think they know everything, but we know that’s not the case. There’s a significant difference in schoolwork; back then, they used to take English books home, but now, not as much.”
As a teenager, did you always believe you would pursue a career as an educator? “No, definitely not. My goal was to study communications, so, in part, I wanted to do something within the field of engineering, but more specifically in the background, like TV and film editing.”
What moment made you realize that you did or didn’t want to pursue a career as an educator? “I think it was during my college studies when I started working for the Board of Education. It prompted me to change my outlook and consider a different path for the future. Although I’ve always enjoyed literature and love reading.”
Do you still want to continue being an educator, or would you like to change your career if possible? If so, to what? “Currently, I am at the end of my career, but if I went back 10 years, I would probably choose a different path. I might pursue a career in law. Alongside communications, I did have an interest in studying law.”
What would you say are the great challenges facing high school graduates today? “Time moves quickly, and it is crucial not to let it slip away unnoticed. Take the opportunity to allow things to evolve naturally. While time can sometimes feel like an adversary, learning to oversee and effectively manage it can transform it into an ally. Embracing the flow of time, understanding its details, and making conscious choices will empower you to navigate through life’s journey with greater purpose and fulfillment.”
Ms. Revilla, a Physical Education and Health teacher.
How many years have you been teaching at FDR? “This is my first year teaching at FDR, and my 6th year of teaching overall.”
How was your teenage life in terms of how you saw your future career path? “I wanted to be an architect, and I went to a high school that had majors. I was an architecture major, so it really seemed like that was the direction I was headed in. I did become an architect for several years, but in my late 20s, I realized that physical education is something that would be more rewarding for me as a career.”
Can you relate any of your teenage past to current teenagers? “I’m sure I had many of the same new experiences, feelings, and thoughts as current teenagers but honestly it does seem very different to be a teen nowadays. Teens now all have smartphones and smartphones weren’t prevalent until I was in college, so it seems that there is a major difference in the way that you all interact with each other and with the world that I experienced in high school.”
As a teenager, did you always believe you would pursue a career as an educator? “No, I had no idea that I would be an educator. I thought I would become an architect, which I did for a while. I think early on in my teenage years I started looking at floor plans and was really captivated by them- and began drawing my own floor plans. When I realized there was a career following this, I became really excited and pursued it wholeheartedly. Making a career change later on was a thoughtfully considered choice, but definitely a surprise, even to me.”
What moment made you realize that you did or didn’t want to pursue a career as an educator? “Well, I really enjoyed the work of being an architect, but the workplace culture of the career was less appealing to me, especially as time went on. And meanwhile sports and fitness had always been a big part of my life as something that brought me a lot of joy, focus, and positive social connections. So, when I was thinking about making a change, the idea of becoming a physical education teacher and sharing skills with students that could hopefully also bring them these lifelong wellness benefits, felt like something that would be important and fulfilling.”
Do you still want to continue being an educator, or would you like to change your career, if possible? “I’m so happy with the decision I made to become an educator. I love my job and each year with more experience, I feel even more adept and confident in my role. It’s difficult to change your career when you’re already set on a path, but I am glad to have made that decision and found a career better suited to me.”
What would you say are the great challenges facing high school graduates today? “Well, I think technology has really changed the educational landscape, and I hope that it ultimately will be a positive advancement for students and for your generation. But I also worry that it might be challenging for teens to develop the independent research, critical thinking, and public facing skills that will be necessary in their adulthood.”
Mr. Stephens, a Living Environment teacher and resident animal rescue guy.
How many years have you been teaching at FDR? “In total I have been teaching for 5 years in NYC public schools. I taught for 3 years in another school before I came to FDR.”
How was your teenage life in terms of how you saw your future career path? “As a teenager, I was focused on academics, aiming for good grades, being a diligent student, and enjoying my free time with friends. In high school, I wasn’t really thinking about my future career plans; I was simply enjoying the experience of being a teenager.”
Can you relate any of your teenage past to current teenagers? “I often reflect on what it would be like to be a teenager in high school right now. During my high school years, smartphones and social media didn’t exist, providing fewer distractions compared to the current generation. I was a very dedicated student, focused, motivated to learn, intelligent, well-behaved, and disciplined. My teachers loved me. However, I wonder how different my experience might have been with the access to technology that students have today.”
As a teenager, did you always believe you would pursue a career as an educator? “Honestly, as a teenager, I didn’t often think about my career after high school or college. I knew I was going to college, and that was as far ahead as I really thought. I never imagined I would become a teacher one day.”
What moment made you realize that you did or didn’t want to pursue a career as an educator? “I began volunteering at the Queens Zoo, conducting tours for school groups and teaching visitors about the animals. That made me realize I enjoyed talking to people and teaching them about things I was passionate about. I also liked that it was a kind of performance, and I enjoyed making the learning experience interesting for them.”
Do you still want to continue being an educator, or would you like to change your career, if possible? If so, to what? “In high school, I developed an interest in acting. If I could do it all over again, I would probably pursue an acting program in college and try to make it as an actor.”
What would you say are the great challenges facing high school graduates today? “To be competitive in the workforce today I think students need to be more adaptable than ever before. The speed of technological development means that new graduates will need to continuously update and modernize their skill sets.”
Ms. Yuan, an AP Seminar and Earth Science teacher.
How many years have you been teaching at FDR? “I have been teaching for 5 years at FDR.”
How was your teenage life in terms of how you saw your future career path? “As a teenager in high school, I was constantly changing my mind about my desired career path. While I had a clear sense of what I didn’t want to pursue—I knew I didn’t want to be an artist because I am not artistic, and I also ruled out history and social studies due to my disinterest in those subjects—I struggled to pinpoint what I did want to do. I knew what I didn’t want, but I was uncertain about my ideal career path.”
Can you relate any of your teenage past to current teenagers? “Yeah, I definitely see the students who think their grades are super important. As a teenager, I also believed school was crucial, and a bad grade would upset me. I can also observe some social dynamics and peer pressure that are still present, but it seems more intense now with the current generation.”
As a teenager, did you always believe you would pursue a career as an educator? “No, as I mentioned earlier, I was constantly changing my mind. However, looking back, I was kind of on track to become an educator. Growing up, I was always helping my younger brother with homework and teaching him various things. In high school, I began tutoring younger students and working with kids as a job. Even in college, I continued with tutoring, and in grad school, I persisted in this role. It took me until grad school to determine that I wanted to be a teacher.”
What moment made you realize that you did or didn’t want to pursue a career as an educator? “I was pursuing my master’s in Earth Science, and as part of that, I was TAing (teacher’s assistant) in classes. While I truly enjoyed being in the lab and working on samples, I found that I enjoyed working with students and TAing even more than being in the lab. Additionally, there are many teachers in my family, and although I don’t necessarily think that was a direct influence, it could have played a role.”
Do you still want to continue being an educator, or would you like to change your career, if possible? If so, to what? “I do see myself continuing to be a teacher. However, if I were to consider a different job, I would choose to be an accountant. I like working with numbers, and being an accountant provides the opportunity to learn about some interesting legal loopholes. Accountants also tend to have a busier schedule at the end of the quarter or the beginning/end of the month, allowing for more free time compared to being a teacher. Additionally, my cousin is an accountant, and I admire her career. Accountants also tend to have better pay.”
What would you say are the great challenges facing high school graduates today? “I think a really big problem that high school graduates are facing today is that they are dealing with a lot of problems that the previous generation has made. Specifically thinking about climate change, my generation, sure we’ll be old once things get really bad, but you guys will be young and having to address the issues with the climate and the severity of climate change. I believe that is the biggest problem our high school graduates might face in the future. Also, you’re growing up in an economy that isn’t encouragingly kind to growth for all people, just kind of for a select few.”
Mr. Zhou, an AP Chemistry and Regents teacher, and the Teacher Leader of the Science Department.
How many years have you been teaching at FDR? “This is my 8th year teaching at FDR, but my 9th year teaching overall.”
How was your teenage life in terms of how you saw your future career path? “When I was a teenager, I thought I was going to become a pharmacist. In high school, I envisioned myself pursuing a career in pharmacy, and when applying to college, I mostly targeted pharmacy schools or programs. My interests lay in medicine, immunology, and understanding how drugs interact with the body. I was drawn to the idea of pharmacists making a comfortable living, providing financial stability, and having an interesting job. That was my “realistic” career option at the time. However, I was also interested in creative writing. I really enjoyed a class I took in high school where I wrote stories and poems. It was an empowering class and I considered pursuing writing as a career as well. I also drummed in high school and it was fun to imagine myself being a famous drummer for a band and pop artist. When I was much younger, I did want to be a cashier in a supermarket. Maybe I’ll do that in the summer or when I retire one day, but only for like a week.”
Can you relate any of your teenage past to current teenagers? “I used to procrastinate a lot in high school, always waiting until the last day or staying up very late to do my homework. Despite my procrastination, I worked really hard and ensured that I did everything to the best of my ability. I was a straight-A student and considered myself pretty smart in high school. While I did all my work, I didn’t particularly enjoy it, and I often complained about it. For example, I also asked why we needed to learn something or when we would use something we learned in real life. But now I know it’s not necessarily the content you learn but the skills you develop while learning the content.”
As a teenager, did you always believe you would pursue a career as an educator? “No, even in college, I did not think I would pursue a career as an educator. I majored in chemical engineering and thought I would do something in engineering or science. However, in college, I realized too late that I didn’t really have a passion for chemical engineering or engineering in general. I felt it was too late to change my major as I was already a junior. Despite excelling in engineering, I continued with it because I knew engineers make very good money. I also felt the pressures of my parents and society to find a lucrative career.”
What moment made you realize that you did or didn’t want to pursue a career as an educator? “When I was in college, I did a lot of tutoring for other students and was actually paid for it as a job. I really enjoyed helping others understand challenging concepts, especially in subjects like math and science. After college, I thought, ‘Let me see if I can make that into a career—helping others understand things they find difficult and make traditionally difficult subjects more accessible and enjoyable for more students.’ I applied to an alternative teacher certification program, and the rest is history. I didn’t know I was going to stay in teaching after entering that program; I initially thought I would only stay for a couple of years, but eventually, I grew a fondness for teaching.”
Do you still want to continue being an educator, or would you like to change your career, if possible? “I love teaching, and my favorite part is working with the kids. However, I sometimes wonder what it would be like if I pursued a different career. There are two pathways that I could see myself exploring. I might actually pursue pharmacy, as I wanted to in high school, to see where that takes me. Alternatively, I could see myself shifting from teaching to a more administrative role, supporting other teachers in improving their pedagogy or working on curriculum. But the dream would be to find a career that allows me to travel and eat a lot!”
What would you say are the great challenges facing high school graduates today? “I think being in such a technological world is a challenge. There is so much information at our fingertips today, especially with the recent explosion of AI, and it’s overwhelming. High school graduates are going to have to navigate a world where AI can quickly do a lot of work a human would have done. This could be a blessing and a curse. I would be nervous about the decline of creative thought and individuality since it is so easy to ask ChatGPT to create something for us.”
As we journeyed through the personal histories of educators, we discovered the intersection of teen dreams and classroom realities. Nostalgia and reflection allowed us to witness the evolution of aspirations and the unpredictable paths that teaching careers can take. The stories conveyed highlight the dynamic character of education, ranging from the limitless potential of childhood frozen in past photographs to the view of young minds. Every educator has a different story to tell, and those stories bear witness to their resiliency, flexibility, and persistent passion for influencing the future generations. As we get to the close of our interview, we acknowledge that teaching is an art that goes beyond the classroom and leaves a lasting legacy for both teachers and the students they teach. I hope students found this article useful in their future endeavors and can resonate with some of the responses of your fellow teachers.