Prisha Puntambekar
After nearly a year of working on MC’s campus, English teacher Shelby Schlaht plans to take a new leap in her career plans.
Before teaching High School English 1-2 and 3-4 at MC, Schlaht spent her time as a teacher in both Las Vegas and Grossmont High School. On all campuses, however, she preferred to work with a younger demographic of adolescents.
“As a high school teacher, I’ve worked with ninth and 10th graders primarily. I do like the younger grades because I am on the younger side myself,” Schlaht said.
With time, a career in teaching presented Schlaht with a variety of unique and complex factors.
“What’s hard is a lot of us become teachers because we’re passionate about working with youth,” Schlaht said. “I don’t want to come across as hating on teaching – but there’s just a lot of challenges and a lot of pressures that come with being a teacher […] Ultimately, I just decided that being a high school teacher is not what I want to do right now.”
Despite her change in career taste, Schlaht found a generally comfortable environment within MC.
“My leaving is not unique to or is not as a result of the school – and I think that’s what really helped me make the decision,” she said. “If I’m going to be a teacher, this is the best place to be.”
Schlaht maintains an open-mind towards the future, as she considers exploring various job opportunities.
“Right now I have a part time job working for a small business that makes sustainable earrings. It’s called Wild cloud,” she said. “I’m really into fitness so maybe [I’ll] do a little personal training.”
For Schlaht, trusting oneself is crucial in the process of selecting a career. As a result, she recommends that young people in the workforce follow their own passions.
“Take everything that others say with a grain of salt, because everybody comes from their own perspective and experience,” she said. “Take in the wisdom that others have to give you, but at the end of the day, you have to listen to yourself.”
At the end of trimester two, Schlaht will conclude her years of teaching. She looks towards an exciting future with an attitude of optimism, eager to explore new means of work experience.
