Erin Cain
MSU Degrees:
MA in English, 2023
MA in Teaching Secondary, 2024
Other degrees:
BA in Psychology from University of Mississippi, 2020
Current position:
Dual Credit English Teacher
Organization:
Louisville High School
When you graduated with a degree in English from MSU, what were your plans for your future? Has your career path mostly realized those early plans, or have you discovered new plans and goals along the way?
When I first received my master’s in English, I honestly didn’t have any specific plans for the future. My only goal was to find a job where my degree would actually be used, and I was happy when I managed to do that. Now that I’ve been out working in the “real world” for a year, I’ve been able to use the time to consider what I like and don’t like about what I’m doing and use that knowledge to develop real goals for the future. My plan now is to find a job teaching English as a second/foreign language abroad, and I’ve already begun taking steps to make that happen.
What is your current occupation, and what does your work mostly consist of? Which skills that you learned as an English major do you use most in your job?
The job that I currently have is as a high school English teacher where I specifically teach dual credit classes. This is where the experience I got as an English grad student at MSU comes in handy. Even though English composition programs can differ greatly depending on what each college chooses to emphasize, some things still remain the same. Being a teacher of record at MSU gave me the opportunity to practice some of these things, such as learning to write clear instructions, figuring out the best ways to give feedback to students, and developing my grading style. These are things that every teacher needs to know, no matter where or how you teach.
Another skill from grad school that I use a lot is the ability to research and find trustworthy sources. It might sound like a very mundane skill to have, but in today’s world it is vital. I can also pass this skill on to my students which will prepare them for everyday life, as well as the research papers they will most likely have to write when they get to college.
What additional skills did you need to learn in order to do your job, and how did you learn them?
There were also many additional skills that I needed to learn in order to be able to do my job to the best of my ability. As someone who really didn’t know anything about having a career in the educational field and who didn’t have any friends or family to go to for help, I started the school year feeling very inadequate. The nice thing about teachers, though, is that their willingness to help extends to everyone around them, not just their students. So, if you go into education, don’t be scared to ask for help if you need it. There will always be someone around who is willing to give advice!
Are there common misconceptions about your career field, which current English majors might share, that you have learned the truth about? What advice do you have for undergraduate English majors right now?
On the other hand, if you aren’t interested in teaching, there are other career options. One of the biggest misconceptions is that many people automatically assume English majors are going to be teachers. While it is a common and noble path, and it is the one I ended up taking, teaching is not for everyone. If your passion lies elsewhere, that is okay. Somewhere out there is a job that fits you. My advice is if an opportunity presents itself to you, accept it. The only things you’ll regret later are the chances you didn’t take.
[Updated May 2024]