"A few years after graduating from college, I was looking for a new career direction, and TESOL seemed like an ideal way to combine my interests in teaching, anthropology, and language. Serving in the Peace Corps gave me a chance to gain solid work experience while fulfilling a lifelong dream, and completing my Master's degree through the reverse Master's International gave me the professional qualification to work at almost any level anywhere in the world. I put my education and my Peace Corps service to use every minute of my time in the classroom--in the dozens of small decisions I make every class and in my attitude and approach as a teacher. I'm able to accept that there are some things I can't do in order to have the energy to focus on the things I can do. I have the confidence to handle new situations and the humor to laugh at myself when I fumble. I can empathize with my students as they learn to live and work in a new culture with a new language, and I can more fully understand their backgrounds and motivation. I also have strong foundational knowledge of my field, I can put the theory I've learned into practice, and I have the network and the resources to continue to develop professionally. My experiences at AU and in the Peace Corps have made me a better teacher, and the perspective I've gained helps me continually approach my work with a sense of purpose."
