Disclaimer: The views expressed by our interviewees are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of GradSimple. We only edit these responses for clarity. All opinions remain those of the interviewee.
- Year Of Graduation: 2024
- College/University: Augustana College
- Major: French Education
What do you do for a living? Can you share what a typical day at work looks like? Do you enjoy what you do?
I currently work part-time at a learning center tutoring K-12 students in reading, math, ACT prep, and French. An average session lasts 2 hours, but it ultimately depends on which student(s) I’m scheduled with. Sometimes I work 1 on 1 with K-3 students or ACT prep students. Other times, I have 4 students at once, typically 4th to 12th graders who can work more independently. I would say my main duty is to facilitate students’ reading/math skills, often leading them to find answers to comprehension questions on their own or with minimal guidance. During my sessions tutoring a high school student taking French, the content of the session is much more dependent on their schoolwork and what aspects of language learning they may be struggling with at that moment. We work on everything from vocabulary and pronunciation to grammar rules to test-taking strategies.
Overall, I do enjoy the work I do, but as with any job, there are rough moments/days. The main thing I enjoy about teaching is the teacher-student relationships. There is an indescribable feeling that comes from being the person who helps a student have their “lightbulb moment.” Seeing the progress my students make in their reading comprehension over time makes me so proud of them and really makes the work worth it. I’ve found that teaching/tutoring at a learning center lets me enjoy working with students without the admin side of teaching that comes with working in a traditional classroom. I don’t foresee myself doing this long term, but for now, it’s something I enjoy.
Can you tell me about your experience finding a job after graduation? Are you happy with where your journey has led you thus far?
Finding a job after graduation was a struggle for me. My major is somewhat niche, and the demand for secondary-level French teachers isn’t booming. I started applying in March of my senior year and was met with a mix of rejections or straight-up radio silence. The one employer I did hear back from ended up ghosting me because the one interview time they had available conflicted with one of my final exams. From my experience, peak teacher hiring time is typically between May-August, so as September approached, school years started, and I still had no job, I realized I needed to pivot. That pivoting turned into applying for substitute and tutoring positions, which ended up working out!
Not only was I having a hard time finding positions to apply for, but I also wasn’t feeling any motivation or excitement for the potential to start teaching. As my friends posted about decorating their classroom and being so excited for the school year to start, I was filled with dread and anxiety about the mere idea of actually being a teacher. I had had my moments of doubt during undergrad, but with the way my program was set up, changing my major really wasn’t an option. I know that any first “adult job” will be scary, but I really think there should be a level of excitement, and that was something I wasn’t feeling about teaching. I had to face the reality that looking for another career path would be my next step.
Since coming to terms with that, I’ve spent a lot of time talking with my college’s career center. They’ve been a huge help in figuring out what to do next. I’m still in a bit of a limbo space right now, looking for jobs or internships relevant to French that can help me get my foot in the door and start deciding what I really want from a job and a career. With all that being said and despite the uncertainty of my situation, I am happy with the progress I’ve made. No one wants a job they dread, and I truly feel that if I hadn’t taken that leap of faith to explore my other options, I’d be stuck in a career that I didn’t truly enjoy.
Why did you choose your undergrad major? Do you feel your time spent in college was valuable? Why or why not?
I chose to major in French education because I wanted to keep using the French I started learning in high school. My options were presented to me in a way that made me feel like the choices for using French in my career were teaching or international business. When I first started taking French, I had gotten the hang of it pretty quickly; I always liked helping my classmates with their homework, or answering their questions when the teacher was busy, so when it came time to declare my major in college, teaching felt like the most logical path.
I think that despite the fact that I no longer want to use a part of my degree, my time spent in college was still incredibly valuable. It gave me friends and experiences that have helped me grow as a person, and let me expand my understanding of the world around me. In terms of my major-related classes, my college-level French classes challenged me in a way that, although they seemed stressful at the time, ultimately made my language skills better than I could’ve imagined. I don’t think I would’ve had the chance to spend 6 weeks in France with a host family if I hadn’t done it through undergrad, and that experience is something I’ll take with me for the rest of my life.
Even my teaching/education courses are something I find value in. Learning how to be a good teacher forces you to learn a wide variety of transferable skills. Project and time management, computer system literacy, interpersonal communication, and professional boundary setting are just a handful of examples of skills I learned through the education program. Even though I wish I could’ve come out of college with a more solid and reassuring path laid out for me, I’m hopeful that the value I’ve found in my education will prove itself worth it.
If I asked you three years ago, what goals would you hope you’ve achieved in life or career?
If you asked me three years ago, I think I would have said I hope to be more relaxed. I’ve always struggled with anxiety and perfectionism when it comes to school/work/life, and it got pretty hard to deal with in college. I went to a few therapy sessions on campus that were definitely helpful at the time, but haven’t necessarily transferred to out-of-college life. I found at the time (and sometimes still today) that I’ll shrink my world to fit into my anxiety rather than the other way around, and doing that holds me back from opportunities in life and in my career search. Going to France was always a goal of mine, and I was worried I wouldn’t have the courage to do it when the time came. But I did it despite being afraid, and it turned out amazing. I wouldn’t say I’ve achieved the goal of being more relaxed, but I’ve made a lot of progress!
How important is it to have a purpose-driven life? Why or why not? Do you think you’re on a path to do that? If not, what needs to change?
I think having a purpose to drive you is a really important aspect of life, especially as a young adult or 20-something. Without something to aim for or a set goal to reach, you end up just kind of floating through the day-to-day. Going through the motions. Answering the question of “what is my purpose” is really hard, and I think it changes as you go through the phases of your life. What I thought was my purpose even just a year ago is totally different than what I may think it is now. Without something driving me, I don’t think I’d ever make it to a point where I can say, “Okay, I’ve made it, but now it’s time to pivot.” Choosing to change career paths is allowing me to explore what I think my purpose is and is opening doors to options I consider myself lucky to have.
What’s your biggest struggle right now? What led to it? How are you moving forward?
My biggest struggle right now is having the courage and drive to take the next steps toward getting a full-time job. The task of searching for positions, optimizing my resume, and actually feeling excited about a job opportunity feels like so much right now and is really daunting. I so badly want to just do it and try something even if I have my doubts, but I think the fear of failing and rejection is holding me back. It’s hard to find motivation when job outlooks feel so grim, and my goal of using French in my career feels less and less likely. But, I’m trying to stay positive. I’ve started going to therapy to find ways to cope with these big feelings and this seemingly huge life transition. I’ve also started setting achievable goals and giving myself a timeline to start chipping away at all the mini tasks that go into the job search process. These are relatively new things I’ve started doing to move forward, so I’m not sure how well they’ll work for me, but if they don’t, then I’ll just have to try something else!
What interests/hobbies bring you the most happiness?
I’m a big reader. I gravitate towards fantasy, but have recently started getting into thrillers too. With the weather getting nicer, I’m really excited to sit outside and read. I also love to do puzzles with my sister. Typically, we’ll each watch our own YouTube videos or listen to podcasts while we work. It’s nice to do something in parallel, but not necessarily have to be actively interacting with one another. Video games are something I’m getting into more, too. I used to play a lot of Stardew Valley, but haven’t done so in a while. Once I start playing, it’s hard to stop! I’m hoping to get back into it soon, though. I’m going to the Stardew Valley Symphony in a few months and am super excited, so I want the gameplay fresh in my mind!
What do you want to spend more time working on? What is stopping you?
I’d love to spend more time cooking. I’m not great at it yet, but I really want to start learning new recipes or trying different variations of the meals I’m already good at making. I especially like making dinner for my family. It’s fun to get to eat a good meal, but it’s also really rewarding to put so much effort into cooking and having people to share it with! Right now, what’s stopping me is time. I work mostly in the evenings and don’t eat dinner until late, so cooking an elaborate meal hasn’t been in the cards. My hours are changing to mornings soon, though, so I’m really hopeful I’ll be able to start cooking more often.
If we traveled three years into the future of your life, what do you want to achieve? What would you hope has changed?
I hope I’ll have found out more about what I like and dislike about a job/career, and what I care about fundamentally when it comes to my role at work. Along with that, I hope I’ll have found some peace with my decision not to pursue teaching. I have my moments of wondering if I’m making the right choice in all of this, and I’m really hopeful that in the next three years I’ll be able to say I feel happy with my decisions. I guess overall my goal for the next three years in the future is the same as what I would’ve wanted three years ago: A bit more peace and less worry/anxiety/overthinking.
What’s the biggest lesson or piece of advice you wish you’d known earlier?
You don’t have to do everything on your own. I tried navigating my feelings of dread related to my job all by myself, and it ultimately pushed me back from making any progress. Since reaching out to a career coach, my family and friends, fellow post-grads, and a therapist, the whole situation has started to feel less like a burden and more like a challenge I’ll eventually overcome. Being self-sufficient and independent is one thing, but carrying the weight of every decision all by yourself isn’t independence, it’s self-sabotage.
Connect With Erika:
- LinkedIn: @ErikaDahlstrand
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