Her Story
About Mary-Ann
I'm currently a graduate teaching assistant at Minnesota State University, where I'm about to complete my Master's in TESOL. I've been teaching first-year writing here in the U.S. for about 2 years now. Before coming to the U.S., I taught general English back in my home country of Ghana for about 3 to 4 years, working with K-12 students. I didn't always know I wanted to be a teacher - when I applied for my undergraduate program at Cape Coast, I applied for Bachelor of Art because I wanted to become a lawyer. But I had this music lecturer who kept telling me I looked like a teacher, and people at church where I worked with the youth kept saying I'd be a good teacher. Along the way, I changed my program to Bachelor of Education in English, and I realized I really love this field. I grew up in an orphanage back home, and I love to serve and be around people, especially young people. Before I began teaching, I worked with two NGOs - one was Act 2 Collective - working with young children and teenage girls, teaching them how to handle themselves and the importance of women having their own skills and feeling confident in whatever they do. I'm currently waiting to hear back from the University of Kentucky, where I applied for a PhD in curriculum and instruction. One of my proudest moments was when all my students back in Ghana passed their English external exams after I came to the U.S. I had been very firm with them about their studies, and one student wrote me a long essay thanking me and apologizing for how they behaved, saying she finally understood why I was so particular with grading. That made me so happy.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mary-Ann
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I believe it's important for women to have their own skills and their own way, and to feel confident in whatever they do. Women shouldn't depend on men for money or support - they should work and get the money themselves. This is especially important because in many places, like back home in Ghana, men see women as if they're supposed to be in the kitchen or do certain limited things. But women have so much potential. I really salute women who are wives, mothers, and still career women, because they do a lot. Being a wife and having children shouldn't prevent you from having a firm or pursuing your education. You can balance it all if you're determined.
02What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I love to serve, and I love being with people, especially young people. I grew up in an orphanage back home, and that shaped my passion for serving others. I believe in being firm and having high standards when it comes to learning and academics, but also being friendly and approachable so students can come to me and confide in me. I'm very particular about doing things right and preparing students properly, even if they don't understand it at the time. I also deeply value empowering women and helping them gain confidence and independence. I look up to women who can balance being wives, mothers, and career women, because they do a lot, and I believe women deserve the opportunity to pursue their education and careers without being limited by traditional expectations.
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