Sidney Westervelt

How many times, if any, did you change your major during college?

Describe the process of choosing your major.

What activities/organizations were you involved in while in college?

Did you complete an internship or have related work experience prior to receiving your job?

Describe the process of finding your first job.

This makes me want to laugh out loud! I thought that the year after college, I was going to spend time volunteering with immigrants, refugees, homeless populations, and people on the poverty level. I had applied for that program, but it fell through and I learned I didn’t get the position in the beginning of July. Goodness sakes! What was I going to do? I applied for a school, got an interview over Skype, got asked to come visit the school, and had a HUGE lack of peace about it. I turned that position down, as I knew, by the lack of peace, it wasn’t the one.

Briefly describe a typical day at your job.

I teach. Children. Every single day. Math, writing, reading, social studies, STEM, life skills. I take care of everyday needs, like food to fill hungry tummies and making sure that my kids get enough sleep. I make sure that, emotionally, the kids are ready to handle the day and when they’re not, I help them process their emotions and teach them that emotions aren’t bad. I plan lessons according to the 20 different needs in my classroom, making sure that they will understand, while still being engaged. I put value in kids who may not see their value and I build them up so they know they are able to accomplish ANYTHING. That’s a brief overview. I teach. I love. I build.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?

The students. Goodness sakes alive, I cannot believe how much these students go through on a day-to-day basis. They bring all of that to school and I, as the teacher, get to help them process. Yes, this is hard, but always worth it. When you can see a child be able to begin to process life on their own, that’s a huge accomplishment and makes you feel (and know) that you’ve made a difference. That makes it all worth it.

What advice would you give someone interested in your field?

What were the major lifestyle changes your first year out of college that made the transition hard from college to the world of work and how did you adapt?

This past year, I had to learn a lot of how to prioritize my time. It helped to have the student internship semester so I could already start that transition. However, teaching takes A LOT of time and you have to make sacrifices in order to do your job well. That means taking time to prepare you lessons and staying after school as needed. It means maybe giving up hanging out with people after work to grade papers. I had to learn what this looked like, but, also, as I got the hang of it, it got much easier.

What was the one thing you did in college that has had the most impact on your life or career?

What tips do you have for current undergrads about opportunities they should definitely take advantage of while they are in school?

Was there a specific class you remember that sparked your interest in your career direction?

What didn't college teach you that you wish you would have known before you started your career?

Do you keep in touch with your college classmates?