What I Did with My College Degree

I entered college not even sure I wanted to be there. I knew a degree was important, but after being thoroughly disillusioned with high school, I was not enthusiastic about spending four or more years in an educational setting. But, I was one of the blessed ones who discovered what I loved doing, got a degree in the field I loved, and have been able to apply my degree and skills in various settings.

My college training helped prepare me for the job market in many areas other than just the subject matter I would be teaching. I had classes in organization and planning, which are important to any career. In several classes I was required to work on projects with a group, which honed my skills in interpersonal work relationships. Upper level education classes often included presentations to the class. The ability to plan a program or presentation and speak publically can be useful in any job area.

Right out of college I took the traditional route of teaching in the classroom. During my career, I have taught in small private schools as well as large public school systems. Obviously my B.A. in Elementary Education had prepared me for this aspect of my career, but along the way I found other ways to utilize my degree and training.

My greatest passion has always been music, and I have played the piano "professionally" since the age of fourteen. The love of teaching and enjoyment of music merged as I began teaching piano lessons in the afternoons and evenings. In this way I could continue to teach in a setting outside the traditional classroom.

From time to time, I have been able to utilize my education degree to tutor at-risk students. Tutoring is actually one of the most profitable ways to use teaching credentials. Tutoring sessions can be conducted in private settings, such as the student's home, or in public settings-a library or school. The money made is well worth the time spent, and can often make a vast difference in a student's success or failure.

An unexpected opportunity presented itself when I stumbled upon a tutoring job at a local community college. English has always been my favorite subject to teach, so I was hired as an English tutor in a learning assistance center. Not only did I get to exercise my teaching skills in person, but this position provided me the chance to improve my computer skills while assisting students with research papers online.

I feel very fortunate that I have been able to use my college degree in various settings to help pay the bills and to enrich the lives of others.