Double major in economics and English, Quynh Vu, is also an aspiring teacher enrolled in the DirecTrack to Teaching program. Quynh hopes to become a role model and support for students of color and LGBTQ+ students who don’t see their identities reflected often in the teaching force.

What drove you to enroll in the DirecTrack to Teaching program?

When I entered college, I wasn’t sure about my future career choices though I had an inkling that teaching could be one of my paths. I had an advisor recommend that I check out the information for DirecTrack to Teaching, and it seemed like a great option to explore the teaching profession with little risk but with plenty of opportunity and guidance.

What do you hope to accomplish as a teacher?

There is a lot that is tossed onto the mantle of a teacher these days, but I openly welcome that challenge. A huge component of what and why I want to teach is building social justice awareness and diversity into school curriculum to support all students. I hope as a teacher in whichever building I walk into will become safer and supportive environments for students of any background.

What has been your experience with the faculty?

The faculty in the DirecTrack to Teaching program are amazing. They’re the first people I go to when I have to make big decisions, or if I have any questions about education and teaching. I feel completely supported, and they’ve never let me down in terms of guiding me toward becoming a future teacher.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Five years seems like a long period ahead of me, but I hope to still have the same passion for teaching that I do now. As always, I want to continue honing in what I can do best as a teacher and constantly improve. Being the best role model and teacher for my students as these next five years goes by requires my continuous reflection and self-criticism. Hopefully, I’ll be a far better teacher five years down the road than I currently am.

What’s been your favorite course so far?

Out of all my courses, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed ” ENGL 3505: Protest Literature and Community Action” with Eric Daigre. It’s the perfect interdisciplinary mashup between social studies and English… you could perhaps say it’s the intersection of social studies and English.

What strengths do you think you will bring to the classroom?

An easy default I can fall on is that there aren’t a lot of teachers of color nor LGBTQ+ teachers in the classroom. I hope to be that point of contact for many students who haven’t had a teacher that looks like them or has the same identity as them. There’s power in representation, and by being there as at least a role model for my students, this can begin to dismantle harmful and discriminatory structures in education.

Learn more about DirecTrack to Teaching in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.