Rilee Seering earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at the University of North Carolina Pembroke. After graduating, she traveled through Europe with family and worked as a teacher assistant at Pine Level Elementary School in Johnston County before enrolling in the Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education program at the Watson College.
“I chose to become a teacher because of my love of helping,” she said. “As a teacher assistant I fell in love with the education world. Teaching is not the easiest career but when you build relationships with your students, you want to be the difference maker in their lives. I am ready to change my student's lives through education.”
Rilee said her ongoing work as a TA helped to enrich her experience in the MAT program.
“I chose UNCW's Watson College of Education due to its amazing commitment to help get adjusted to the new program,” she said. “I appreciate having the ability to continue working as a teacher assistant while completing my master's and all the resources that are offered to help you succeed through the program. Continuing my work as a teaching assistant helped prepare me for my teaching career by staying in the education environment. Watson also allowed me to gain field experience in the same school, which allowed me to connect with the staff and students and make my learning experience more meaningful.”
Rilee is currently completing her internship in a kindergarten classroom at Micro Elementary School, and says the Hattie Strong Scholarship came at a perfect time.
“The Hattie M. Strong Scholarship award means so much to me by making me feel confident in the direction I am going because I am being supported by someone who wants me to succeed,” she said. “This will help me through the internship semester by worrying less about how I will afford the school and more about how to become the teacher I dream of being.”
Rilee said she has plans for a long career in the field of education.
“I am beyond excited to have my class one day and my goal is to make a difference in the student's life,” she said. “After a few years of teaching, I am looking to get my doctorate in administration and management and become a principal or work as a professor one day to help students like me achieve the same goals I am achieving through Watson College of Education.”
This article has the following tags: Students & Alumni Accomplishments Watson College of Education