Ms. Ramey’s path to teaching is a powerful example of how careers do not always follow a straight line. While many educators grow up knowing they want to be teachers, Ms. Ramey’s journey was shaped by change, reflection, and determination. Her story highlights resilience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to helping others. These qualities continue to define her as both an educator and a lifelong learner.
Originally, teaching was not part of Ms. Ramey’s plan. She began her college career on a pre-med track with hopes of becoming a dermatologist. Health and wellness has always been strong interests of hers, and medicine felt like a natural fit. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted daily life and education systems everywhere, Ms Ramey took time to reevaluate her goals. She realized that the long years of additional schooling required for medical school did not align with her personal goals or the life she envisioned for herself. During this time, she briefly explored communications before ultimately finding her way into education.
This shift was not an easy decision, but it was a meaningful one. Ms. Ramey discovered that her passion for health and wellness could still play a major role in her career just in a different form.
“By becoming a health and physical education teacher, I was able to combine her interest with my love for working with children,” Ramey said. “Teaching allowed me to promote lifelong habits related to physical health, mental well-being, and personal responsibility, all while making a direct impact on students’ lives.”
As a teacher, Ms. Ramey quickly learned that education is far more challenging than people assume.
“One common misconception about teaching is that it is ‘easy’ or balanced out by school breaks,” Ramey expressed. “In reality, I face emotional and physical challenges daily. Teaching requires patience, adaptability, and constant problem-solving.”
Ms. Ramey strongly believes that behavior is a form of communication, especially when working with teenagers. This understanding has changed how she sees people and strengthened her ability to connect with students on a deeper level.
One of the most impressive aspects of Ms. Ramey’s journey and her decision to return to school while teaching full-time to earn her master’s degree. Balancing graduate school and teaching career requires discipline, organization, and strong time management skills. Ms. Ramey managed this by staying extremely organized, planning ahead, and sticking to a consistent routine. She believes discipline eventually turns into a habit, and this mindset helped her succeed in both roles.
Maintaining a healthy work life balance also was important to her during this demanding time. Ms. Ramey said clear boundaries with her time, using school hours and cleaning periods efficiently so she rarely needed to bring physical work home. She has made intentional efforts to protect her personal time while still staying involved in activities that support her students, such as attending extra curricular activities.
Ms. Ramey’s ability to manage stress comes from focusing on what she can control.
“I plan ahead, stay organized, and accept that not everything will go as expected,” Ramey stated. “When challenges arise, I adjust and keep moving forward. This mindset not only helped me through graduate school but also made me a strong role model for students learning how to handle pressure and change.”
At the core of Ms. Ramey’s teaching philosophy is her belief that relationships matter. She strongly feels that students cannot truly learn unless they feel safe, supported, and welcomed. Creating a positive classroom environment is just as important as delivering content. By building trust with her students, Ms. Ramey helps them feel valued, which allows learning to happen more naturally and effectively.
Ms. Ramey’s story proves that it is okay for plans to change. What matters most is finding a path that aligns with personal values and passions. Her journey from pre-med student, to dedicated educator and graduate student shows perseverance and purpose. Through her experiences, Ms. Ramey continues to inspire others by demonstrating that growth often comes from unexpected directions.
