A Calling Discovered in the Classroom
What began as an elective requirement quietly became something more. An unexpected semester in a second-grade inclusion classroom revealed the power of presence, purpose, and responsibility. Now a student in the Teacher Education (MAT) program, Eunice Pay-Bayee carries resilience and lived experience into the classroom, committed to lifting student voices and becoming part of the change that shapes the next generation.
A Beautiful Journey and a Calling
I am able to say that my professional and academic journey has been very interesting and beautiful because I am alive. Life is beautiful.
I wanted to become a nurse, like many people of African descent. During the last semester before my graduation in 2018, I needed an elective to complete my required credits for graduation. I met with my advisor, who recommended civic engagement. Little did I know that I would spend the entire semester on a school campus, in a second-grade inclusion classroom.
On the first day, the principal asked me to perform breakfast duty. It was on that day that I heard my calling. God opened my eyes to see the need for educators and the needs of students. After that encounter, I tried to fight the calling, but I could not get it off my mind.
After graduation, I asked God to help me because there was no way to sit outside of the circle and expect change. I made up my mind to become part of the change I wish to see. I decided to become part of a team that has the ability to guide, mentor, and make a significant impact on the next generation. Lifting the voices of students whose voices are not heard and serving as a role model to foster essential life skills like critical thinking, responsibility, and resilience in the lives of students makes my journey beautiful.
The professors and leadership of the MAT program have cultivated my thinking and opened windows through which I can receive the help needed for my growth and achievement.
Eunice Pay-Bayee
Learning & Teaching in the Classroom
Student teaching is exciting because I get to see and work with students in person. I am able to experience the actual classroom, build relationships with students and other staff, teach students, and be part of a team of educators.
The MAT program has prepared me for this stage by building foundational knowledge, developing critical skills, and fostering personal attributes for performance in the classroom. The professors and leadership of the MAT program have cultivated my thinking and opened windows through which I can receive the help needed for my growth and achievement.
For example, the deliberate practice through the Camden Teacher Pipeline team brings the classroom environment into live review. The opportunity to practice teaching with adult students and adjust based on feedback after each presentation has been an eye-opener. The new knowledge and skills I have acquired through the MAT program, which can be developed into more advanced knowledge and skills, have prepared me for this stage.
During student teaching, I plan to accomplish effective planning and instruction, classroom management, and the building of positive relationships with students, colleagues, and parents.
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Finding Beauty in the Storm
I am an optimist. I believe that every storm in one’s life has beauty. I believe storms come for a reason, and the sun shines when the storm passes.
It has been 29 years since I stepped out of high school. There have been many storms along the way: civil war, family loss, death, financial challenges, illness, and more. These storms come for a season. The beauty in the storm is what matters. This is one fun fact about me.
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