From Dream to Job

Two roads diverged in an Auburn classroom… and both intertwined with Birmingham. I had the joy of befriending Vestavia Hills-raised Katie Glenn when attending Auburn University for our English degrees. After college, however, we chose to take very different routes with our passion for the English language. Katie soon became a 6th grade English teacher, where she now spends her days investing in students so they can grow up to do amazing things (and articulate themselves when doing so!).

I had the opportunity to visit her classes and share with her students a simple but profound message: You can like English and do cool things. For many students, it was mindblowing to learn about my past and current jobs as a freelance book editor, magazine editor, instructor at Auburn University, and travel website writer. They were shocked to learn about all of the fun I have going to local events for Birmingham Parent Magazine. (I live in an awesome place overflowing with special things happening all the time—our digital calendar can testify to that!)

Others found my international trips, such as my pastry school experience in Florence, Italy, to be encouraging for their adventurous hearts. I reminded them that you really can live out your dreams, but it takes hard work and planning. You don’t have to be “confined” by a subject you enjoy in school—reading and writing became the avenue through which I was inspired to explore the world! 

The students also had the chance to ask questions after the presentation, from “What’s your favorite place you’ve ever been?” to “What should I do with my book I’m writing?”. We then worked on writing and editing an assignment together as a class. I finished each class period by teaching the power of stories in both nonfiction and fiction genres. After class, several students brought their own written pieces to me to receive constructive feedback on the assignment.

At Birmingham Parent Magazine, we want to inspire and equip the next generation to rise up as readers and dreamers. We love supporting young writers, and it was such a privilege to prove to students that English can go beyond the walls of the ELA classroom—it can take you to beautiful and exciting places all across the globe, whether through a book or in real life!