Alyssa Sulaiman, Class of ’25
Alyssa’s passion for teaching emerged in high school when she began tutoring students living in NYC shelters. Now a student teacher in her hometown district, she is eager to educate and inspire the next generation. Alyssa’s love for her students drives her to be the best teacher she can be: “Every day I look forward to seeing my students.”
What made you pursue English as a major? What’s the most fulfilling part of your major?
Ever since I was in elementary school, I had a natural inclination towards reading and writing. It was a passion that, luckily, my elementary school teachers noticed and helped me foster. What I love most about being an English major is being able to have both an individual and group experience with literature. When reading, we all get to experience an unique analysis of the text based on our own life experiences and perspectives, but when we all come together to share and discuss these individual, unique readings, each one of us walks away with a deeper understanding of the text than before.
What led you to pursue both the Teachers Education Program and the BA/MA Program? How did you hear about them?
When I was in high school, a teacher recommended that I join a non-profit organization called Sparks Within Reach whose mission was to support academically struggling students from shelters across NYC. This was my first experience teaching and the only one I needed to know that this is what I want to do. During my freshman year, I had a TA who was in the BA/MA program who encouraged us to join. When I got in, it truly felt like a gift being able to do Master’s courses during my undergrad, and I am glad that I was ambitious enough to pursue it.
Have you done your student observation or student teaching yet? If so, tell me about that experience.
I’m currently teaching 8th grade ELA at P.S./M.S. 124 in South Ozone Park, Queens. This is the elementary and middle school I went to and that my brother graduated from last year, so, coming in, I was already familiar with the environment and my past teachers were here supporting me all the way. My comfortability from the very beginning allowed me to direct all of my focus on practicing and improving my pedagogy rather than learning the school culture, which would have been foreign to me in schools on Long Island.
What has been your driving factor for teaching?
Although there are many difficult moments while teaching, my love for my students is my driving factor. Every day I look forward to seeing my students and helping them in whatever ways that I can. Those small one-on-one interactions, sometimes not even during the lesson itself, but right before or after class when I’m chatting with a student, or a student is making me laugh is what makes everything worth it.
What advice would you give to other students who wish to pursue teaching?
My first piece of advice to those who wish to teach is to get as much experience with teaching and working with kids as possible before graduating. Whether it’s tutoring or being a summer camp counselor, just do it! My second piece of advice is if your heart’s not in it — if you’re not truly passionate about teaching — don’t do it! It can be a thankless job at many points (and the pay doesn’t make it better). Our future students need educators who are passionate and really care about them as students and people.