Melanie Reilly

Hi! My name is Melanie and I am a junior studying psychology and sociology at Chapman University. In the future I hope to teach either elementary school or high school world history. I believe that getting an education should be a process that all students enjoy and have equal access to. I hope that as a teacher I will be able to help students flourish academically and discover more about their interests.

The past several years I have spent summers managing a summer camp in my home town, Palo Alto, CA. I was responsible for planning the weekly schedule, communicating directly with parents, and making sure kids had a fun and safe summer. Through this experience I learned how much I love working with kids (and their parents) to encourage them to get out of their comfort zones, solve behavioral problems, and learn more about themselves.

I aspire to be a teacher because I used to dread going to school. As a kindergartner, every morning was a battle to get me into the classroom. I would chase my parents into the parking lot or think of every excuse to get out of going to school. I put up such a fuss because I was afraid of my teacher. She was quick tempered and grouchy. I was a slow learner, so her lack of patience did not make us compatible. Elementary school is one of children's first interactions with the world, and I believe mine stunted my confidence and sullied my perception of school. I want to give my students a better experience than I had. As a teacher I hope to embody patience and compassion. To ensure equal access for all of my students I will make sure any available technology in the classroom rotates on a schedule so everyone can use it. I will be flexible with due dates/assignment times so that students can work at their own pace.

If you want to get in touch you can contact me through my email: [email protected]