As a high schooler, Brayden Emerick dreamed of attending The University of Alabama for her undergraduate education. But her plans changed, after starting her freshman year at Spring Hill College in Mobile, she transferred to Virginia where she earned her bachelor’s degree at Old Dominion University.
Brayden’s love for learning compelled her to continue her education so she could be the best possible teacher for her students. “As an educator, you need to constantly grow. You can only take your students as far as you can go. If you become stagnant then so do they,” Brayden said.
Brayden’s husband found UA Online and saw that a master’s in Secondary Education with Reading Specialist certification was available. Brayden knew it was her opportunity to attend the university she had dreamed about since high school and advance her classroom skills as a high school English teacher.
“The program was more cost-efficient at Alabama than any other schools in my area,” Brayden said. “You get so much out of it and I couldn’t have asked for a better program to go through.”
Her husband was finishing up his bachelor’s when Brayden enrolled in 2016. They both had to find time to balance coursework while parenting their two kids and working full-time jobs. Brayden credited her husband with being her biggest cheerleader.
“There were so many irons in the fire all at once, but my husband is such a team player,” Brayden said. “It took him 10 years to get his undergrad because he was working so far away and he said, ‘You supported me through all of this, and I want to support you in getting your master’s.’”
“Communication was really key in making sure we got everything done,” Brayden said. “We set up a family calendar on Google to make things easier.”
The program requires a practicum each semester, but the public school Brayden Emerick worked at did not allow her to record her lessons in the classroom for her coursework. Brayden had to find a creative way to fulfill her practicum requirement and turned to her own children’s education for the solution. Through the help of her daughter’s private day care and her program supervisor, Dr. Julianne Coleman, Brayden completed her practicum. Brayden said that working with a different age group than she was used to further expanded her skill set.
“The program opened a lot of doors for me especially being associated with The University of Alabama,” Brayden said. “That name carries a lot of clout. When people find out I earned my master’s there it is a whole different spectrum.”
Because of her degree, Brayden took a job at a more in-need high school in her area. She trains the city’s English teachers and helps teachers of other subject areas because of her reading specialist certification. Old Dominion has even invited her to speak at their annual writing conference due to her experience. On top of her everyday teaching responsibilities, Brayden also tutors students for Virginia’s standardized English tests. Shortly after making progress tutoring these students, COVID-19 spurred Virginia to close all schools.
Brayden Emerick adapted to online teaching and found ways to connect with her students using web-based platforms. While it was hard to adapt her teaching methods so quickly, not being around her students has been the most challenging part. “I miss my students so much; they are so lively and funny, and their personalities are great. We have fun reading and writing in the classroom,” Brayden said.
Although she isn’t sure what the fall semester will look like, Brayden is excited to get to be hands-on with her students again. And getting back to school is not the only thing Brayden is looking forward to. Brayden joined a UA alumni chapter close by, and she and her husband watch the Iron Bowl every year with other Alabama fans and alumni.
A longtime fan, Brayden was thrilled to experience even more of the “Alabama hype” at her graduation in August 2017. Commencement fell on Fan Day that year, an event hosted by UA where fans can come watch an open Alabama Football practice. Brayden and her family were able to experience the fan culture Alabama is known for.
Though the future is uncertain right now, Brayden is hoping to continue her education and earn a PhD in the near future. She looks forward to continuing to elevate her career and is grateful for her time as a UA student.
“The whole program really changed my life and changed my career,” Brayden said. “It’s opened doors I couldn’t have ever imagined.”
Published: August 31st, 2020