Career Roadmap
Kelly's work combines: Education, Acting & Theatre, and Teaching / Mentoring
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
International/Globalization Studies
University of California-Irvine
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an English Language & Literature Teachers, Postsecondary:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Thai Language and Literature
Certification: CELTA
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
Had passion for languages, but didn't know what to do with it.
2.
Took all the language classes possible at university, although they didn't count towards my major.
3.
Studied abroad in Germany for a year.
4.
After college, got a job as an English teacher in Bordeaux, France.
5.
Decided teaching wasn't for me and I got a desk job.
6.
Hated sitting in a chair all day, so I did a course to learn how to teach.
7.
Taught English in California, London, and Singapore.
8.
Started teaching English in San Sebastian, Spain in 2012.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
You should find a job that earns more money.
How I responded:
It's true you can't make an amazing living as an English teacher, but not everyone needs to be a Rockefeller. I think "the noise" is the pressure to get a career where you earn big bucks, even if it means working 12 hour days, chained to your chair. This isn't a life. Earning the money is one thing, but if you don't have time to enjoy it, what's the point? The rewards of being an English teacher are the real deal: Living in foreign countries, helping others, time for your side projects...
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
Teaching in France, I wasn't paid much, so I had to learn to cook meals on a tight budget. I don't think I went to the cinema for a year because I couldn't afford it. I found entertainment the old-fashioned way: hanging out with friends.