Passion Rekindled: Teaching Dreams & Viral Streams

Posted October 14, 2025October 15, 2025 in Stories, Students, Teacher Education

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Falling out of love with her old role in education didn’t mean leaving the field—it meant finding a new way forward. That decision led to the Teacher Education MAT program at Rutgers–Camden, where Shelby Kaluhiokalani is now completing her clinical placement in a second-grade classroom. With six years of experience as a registered behavior technician behind her—and even a viral TikTok moment that showcased her creativity—she’s drawing on those skills while building the confidence and imagination to step fully into teaching. Read on to see how the program has shaped her journey and what excites her most about this next step (with her TikTok embedded for a fun aside).

From Technician to Teacher

I have worked in education for the last 6 years as a registered behavior technician. I have extensive experience in managing classroom behaviors, collecting data, and identifying effective strategies. Now I am able to place those skills at the front of the room as I give instruction.

I was falling out of love with my old position in education… once I was accepted to Rutgers–Camden, it was as if the path of teaching unfolded before me, and I knew that accomplishing this was possible.
Shelby Kaluhiokalani

Finding the Courage to Begin

I was falling out of love with my old position in education, but didn’t quite want to leave the field itself. I had to gather the courage to fill out the application, and once I was accepted to Rutgers–Camden, it was as if the path of teaching unfolded before me, and I knew that accomplishing this was possible.

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Building Confidence Through the MAT Program

The MAT program at Rutgers not only provides the classes required for your degree, but also offers clinical experience. You are placed in these communities that have relationships and partnerships with Rutgers–Camden. I am developing classroom-ready skills with a strong foundation in theory and in practice.

What I’m Working Toward as a Teacher

I hope to learn how to accept feedback and use it to edit or make changes to either a lesson plan or approach to teaching, and meet the standards.

A Fun Fact Beyond Teaching

Outside of teaching, a fun fact is that I once went viral on TikTok for reviewing a bag I purchased to represent my sorority. It had over 14,000 views.

@shelbykalxo
Finer womennnnn get into this bag omg 🥲🙏🏼 @heygreeks did their big one with this CROFT bag in royal blue 💙 #zphib #bluenwhite🕊💙🕊💙 #zetaphibeta #sorors💙🤍 #zpb
♬ original sound – g23