With finals quickly approaching, many SSU students are lacking the motivation needed to push through, with school being virtual. However, the SSU Career Center’s Alumni Takeovers are a great way for students to gain motivation and see a day in the post-grad life of an SSU alumni. This past Thursday, SSU Class of 2019 alumni Daisy Agers hosted an Alumni Takeover on the SSU Career Center Instagram.

Agers was excited when the SSU Career Center reached out to her to host a Takeover. She went on to say that she “…is a very proud Seawolf and loved my time at Sonoma State, so I felt that doing a takeover would be a fun and perfect way to inspire recent graduates.”

When reflecting upon her four years as an Early Childhood Major, Daisy strongly feels as if her time at SSU as an undergrad prepared her for a teaching career. “During my undergrad, we did a lot of observation hours which allowed us to explore a wide range of developmental stages. Observation hours are similar to an internship experience which taught me professional development skills,” Agers shared.

After completing her undergrad, Agers returned to SSU to earn her teaching credential. Agers thoroughly enjoyed her time in the SSU credential program as it gave her the tools necessary for her career. She told the Instagram Live audience that, “in the credential program, we really talked about lesson planning and how to meet grade level standards and curriculum. I had two really awesome mentor teachers during my credential program that taught me a lot about classroom management and resources.”

Agers enjoyed the questions aspect of the Instagram takeover as it allowed her to provide current SSU students with advice whether they are currently undergrad students or in the credential program. “My best advice is to get a substitute teaching certification to allow yourself to start getting classroom experience. With my substitute teaching certification, I was able to see so many different classroom structures as well as grade levels,” Agers said. A substitute teaching certification was a great way for her to get classroom experience, as well as a strong resume booster, as this certification allowed her to show employers her flexibility.

In addition to getting this certification, Agers encouraged students to stay organized while in the credential program. “I would recommend investing in a planner while in the credential program. There are a lot of projects, assessments, and tests that need to be completed while student teaching in addition to your coursework at SSU, so it is important to stay organized and on top of what you are doing,” Agers advised.

Many SSU students enjoyed watching Agers’ Career Center Takeover as it gave them a fresh perspective on what to expect in post-grad life. SSU Early Childhood Education major Hunter Petretti was excited to hear that someone who graduated in the same major as her was doing a takeover on the Career Center Instagram. “I really enjoyed being able to see a day in Daisy’s post-grad life. I enjoyed being able to see the behind the scenes of her classroom as well as the COVID-19 precautions that are currently being taken as elementary schools return to in-person, hybrid learning,” Petretti remarked.

At times, Petretti finds herself worried that she is not on the right track for a career as an elementary school teacher. However, Agers’ takeover gave her the reassurance that she is on the right track to eventually becoming an elementary school teacher. “Watching Daisy’s takeover was the exact motivation I needed entering finals week. Her takeover made me realize that all my hard work will be worth it in the end and showed me just how excited I am to eventually be in the exact same position as Daisy,” Petretti shared.

Agers hoped that her takeover allowed students to “…learn that being a first year teacher is hard, but with support from others, it is worth all the hard work.” The Career Center is aiming to continue running Alumni Takeovers, as they have proven to be a great motivator for students that are struggling to find motivation throughout the semester.