Alexis Stackhouse杏吧专区檚 longtime commitment to volunteering led her to major in middle school education at the 杏吧专区.
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檓 always putting other people before me, and that makes me feel good. Putting a smile on someone else杏吧专区檚 face, like when I杏吧专区檓 volunteering, it's not for me 杏吧专区 it杏吧专区檚 for the people I杏吧专区檓 helping, and I love to see that.杏吧专区
Alexis started volunteering at summer camps when she was a freshman in high school, and that love for helping others led to her nursing before she realized education was her passion.
杏吧专区淚 took some education classes and I was like, 'Yes, this is it. This is my purpose,'杏吧专区 Alexis said.
Her freshman year at UL Lafayette, Alexis started volunteering at New Hope Tutoring in the afternoons, and that solidified her career choice as a middle school teacher.
杏吧专区淵ou're always going to have a job in education,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淚 love that stability, and I love that you杏吧专区檙e able to do something that you truly love while you杏吧专区檙e impacting other people."
杏吧专区淲ithout teachers, you don杏吧专区檛 have these other jobs, other occupations. So I wanted to make a difference in someone杏吧专区檚 life, and I felt through teaching, that杏吧专区檚 my way of changing the world and making my impact on the world.杏吧专区
In the , which is part of the middle school education curriculum, Alexis observes in local schools to prepare her for student teaching.
杏吧专区淵ou observe the students, and you observe the teachers in the grade levels you want to teach. You杏吧专区檙e observing through their actions, how the students respond, and writing notes down,杏吧专区 she explained.
In her classes on UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 campus, Alexis enjoys learning from professors杏吧专区 experiences.
杏吧专区淲e all talk as future educators and that has helped me open my perspective of so many things. The instructors and professors are all previous teachers and administrators, so they know 杏吧专区 they've actually done it,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淣etworking with them, and them being honest about their experiences, that is what is going to help me persevere in this career.杏吧专区
Getting Involved on Campus
When Alexis moved to Lafayette from New Orleans, she knew very few people from home 杏吧专区 so she decided to join student organizations.
The first organization she joined was the , and now she杏吧专区檚 their vice president.
杏吧专区淚 know we杏吧专区檙e at a predominantly white institution, so I joined them because they looked like me, and I knew they were for me. There was nothing but intelligent, strong, beautiful black women in this organization and I wanted to be a part of that,杏吧专区 Alexis said. 杏吧专区淭he mentors I杏吧专区檝e gained from this organization, the professional development and going to conferences 杏吧专区 so many opportunities have come from this."
杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 allowed me connect with people on so many different levels 杏吧专区 on campus and even outside the 杏吧专区. I was able to meet a fellow teacher, and she took me under her wing and let me shadow her while gaining some good advice about my career," Alexis said. "It杏吧专区檚 great to meet people and also be able to influence other women.杏吧专区
Alexis is also the director of event planning for , a peer advisor for the Academic Success Center, and a member of the , the , and was previously a .
Balancing her schoolwork, her volunteering, and her involvement on campus has taught Alexis a lot.
杏吧专区淚t also teaches you time management and how to multitask 杏吧专区 we do study hall, meetings, community service, and fun bonding events 杏吧专区 but it forces you to stay on top of your work because you can杏吧专区檛 go to those things if you杏吧专区檙e stuck doing work," she said. "From my own experience, I杏吧专区檝e had to bring work with me on the go 杏吧专区 and that is okay, because we are students first.杏吧专区
