Choosing Teaching, Finding Purpose

Posted March 19, 2026March 19, 2026 in Students, Teacher Education

Reading Time: 3 minutes

For some, the decision to teach comes down to one question: how do you make learning something students actually want to be part of? That is the work Quinn Ehmann has stepped into as a student in the Teacher Education MAT program. With a background supporting children in both classroom and clinical settings, including her training as a Child Life Specialist at Cooper Hospital, she brings a clear focus on making education engaging, purposeful, and memorable. Now in a first-grade classroom, she is working to turn that focus into practice.

Starting With Children, Always

I have always loved working with children in any capacity where I knew I was making a positive impact. Before entering the MAT program, I interned at Cooper Hospital, where I trained to become a Child Life Specialist. That experience allowed me to support children and families in a meaningful way and confirmed that I wanted to continue working in a role where I could benefit children directly.

I also earned my bachelor’s degree in Childhood Studies, along with a minor in Psychology, from Rutgers-Camden, which further shaped my understanding of child development and how students learn.

The MAT program has prepared me for this stage by giving me a sense of purpose…each day in the program has given me more reasons to feel confident.
Quinn Ehmann

What Excites Me About Student Teaching

What excites me most about student teaching is being able to guide students and begin using my own practices to help them thrive in the classroom. It is exciting to move from learning about teaching to actually doing it and seeing how students respond.

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Finding My Purpose in the MAT Program

The MAT program has prepared me for this stage by giving me a sense of purpose. There were times when I was unsure if teaching was the right path for me, but each day in the program has given me more reasons to feel confident that it is.

I want to learn not only how to teach, but how to make the curriculum engaging so that students enjoy it and retain what they learn. I also want to find the best ways to make education fun while still being effective.