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I am 23 years old. I work at a kindergarten as an English Teacher. I design lesson plans for various classes. I teach Phonics and reading and take care of the P.E. and Arts department.

Although I was offered the position instantly, the process of finding an internship was extremely tough. Some of the biggest challenges in finding an internship were – (i) Having had no prior experience working. While companies do consider new grads, most would hire someone with prior knowledge and experience than not. (ii) Being bilingual (Thai and English) is a big bonus. While there are many international companies, candidates with no prior working experience and those without Thai skills are less likely to get hired (unless you charm the employer with a can-do attitude during your interview phase. Lastly, the time cramp, one month is very little time to prepare a resume, look for jobs and quickly secure one while maintaining communication with your advisor and the HR of the hiring company, so the only solution for this, I suggest, would be to start early. 

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What are your challenges at work?

I am currently working in the teaching industry, where the biggest challenge is the huge competition around you. You have to be confident in your abilities and just do your best. 

What attracted you to the company? 

I wanted to be a teacher, and a friend of mine was already working at the school, so I applied for a position and got accepted.

What is the key to succeeding in the internship and getting to your current job?

I did self-study for my internship, analysing a company and finding ways to improve it. This did not help with my current job.

Does your degree equip you with the skills required by your job?

 In some ways, yes. Public speaking and Grammar classes definitely helped me figure out how to approach the education sector, but there are many classes that I cannot use in my current job.

What are the challenges you face in your job? How do you overcome them?

Honestly, the biggest challenge is my co-workers. I have always preferred individual work, and I do not appreciate it when judged based on my age and lack of experience. Unfortunately, that is something I would have to deal with in whichever industry I chose to pursue my career.

Is there any advice you would give current students about academics or life at STIU in general? 
Fake it ’til you make it. It will probably work out in the end.