Eric Brooks, ’15

Major

English, Education Track

Current Employment

8th Grade Language Arts teacher at Aberdeen Middle School in Northern Maryland

What have you been up to since you were a student at Marymount?

After graduating from Marymount I quickly started looking for teaching jobs. I’ve been teaching 8th grade since August teaching the subject I love (literature) and trying to share my enthusiasm with my students.

What are you working on now and what are you most proud of?

Currently I am still trying to find a good balance between work and my personal life. I still take time to do the things I am passionate about, such as writing, and I currently assist with my school’s Drama club. In teaching there are proud moments (as well as frustrations) every day. Seeing my students grow reminds me of why I wanted to be a teacher in the first place. Just recently I had a conversation with a student who expressed his frustrations with reading from day one, and just the other day he told me he read To Kill a Mockingbird independently in a matter of days!  I am also very proud to have gotten one of my students hooked on Edgar Allen Poe.

How did your experience at Marymount impact these things?

My experience at Marymount helped me to balance heavy work loads while still finding time for myself. I learned the leadership skills necessary of a teacher through my involvement with Marymount Actors’ Guild, Campus Ministry, and the Center for Teaching and Learning. More than anything else, it taught me to love what I do and to seek out new ways to further my understanding.

What are your future career, service, or other goals?

In the future I would like to be in charge of my school’s theater club, and I would also like to teach a theater class. At this point in time, I’d like to just get a good handle on the responsibilities of being a teacher so that I can have more time to branch out into other endeavors.

What advice would you give to prospective students considering a career in your field?

Honestly, being a first year teacher is rough, and I’ve grown very close with other teachers who have also experienced the struggles of being new to this field. My coworkers have offered support every step along the way, and at the end of the day, on those roughest days, you just have to remember why you chose the field you chose. We make a difference for our kids and that’s the motivation that keeps me going.