When you find something you're passionate about, the motivation to pursue it will follow. Let go of practical concerns for a moment and focus on the one thing you're most passionate about.

Career

Identify what you're most passionate about.

There are many paths to becoming a teacher. Learn more about helpful tips and steps you can start taking today to start your career in teaching! 

Find out how to become a teacher.

There will always be obstacles in your journey. Life is not about avoiding those obstacles, but learning how to navigate them. Get advice on how to overcome your obstacles! 

Day to Day

Watch a TED Talk about overcoming obstacles.

Ethnic and Cultural Studies Professors

Teach courses pertaining to the culture and development of an area, an ethnic group, or any other group, such as Latin American studies, women's studies, or urban affairs. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

First Interest High-Point

Third Interest High-Point

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Second Interest High-Point

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary

Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

Education, Training, and Library Occupations

Postsecondary Teachers

Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.

Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.

Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.

Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.

Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives.

Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.

Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.

Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.

Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.

Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.

Advise students on academic and vocational curricula, and on career issues.

Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.

Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.

Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.

Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.

Compile bibliographies of specialized materials for outside reading assignments.

Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.

Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.

Act as advisers to student organizations.

Incorporate experiential or site visit components into courses.

Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department head.

Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.

Participate in campus and community events, such as giving public lectures about research.

Carousel slide projectors

Compact digital cameras

Compact disk CD players

Computer data input scanners

Computer laser printers

Computer projectors

Conference telephones

Desktop computers

Digital calculators

Digital video cameras

Digital video disk DVD players

Handheld microphones

Interactive whiteboard controllers

Interactive whiteboards

Laptop computers

Laser facsimile machines

Liquid crystal display LCD projectors

Liquid crystal display LCD televisions

Microphone podiums

MP3 digital voice recorders

Multi-line telephone systems

Multimedia projection equipment

Opaque projectors

Overhead data projectors

Photocopying equipment

Poster printers

Projector screens

Student response systems

Tablet computers

Television monitors

Universal serial bus USB flash drives

Videoconferencing equipment

Webcams

Wireless microphones

Blackboard Learn

Calendar and scheduling software

Collaborative editing software

Course management system software

Data entry software

Desire2Learn

DOC Cop

Email software

Google Docs

Image scanning software

iParadigms Turnitin

Learning management system LMS

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Word

Sakai CLE

Web browser software

Appreciate the small things and always ask questions. Build community with the people who can answer those questions. Find a community of individuals that you can think and create with. 

As a professor of Educational Policy Studies and African-American Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago, I attend classes and prepare lectures twice a week. I spend the majority of my time volunteering and working within the communities I hope to influence in order to better tell their studies. I also write and do a lot of research. 

Associate Professor

Everywhere you turn, people try to tell you who to be and what to do. empowers people to define their people form different backgrounds. from all walks of life. build a life around doing what you love. the Atlantic Ocean while it was raining. I'm thinking all these people are crazy. and it was actually really fun. trip that I've been reluctant to do. ask me more than once, to the peer pressure. say yes to some crazy thing you guys >> Water is like that. it's coming over to the next step. these four weeks that you've completed. like coming out you're like, I feel fresh. the ocean to going to an interview. how far towards the end of [INAUDIBLE]. a woman called Beverly who's a writer. Beverly Donofrio on Facebook, >> That's too weird. go to college until I was 24 years old and classes before I got pregnant. A's I could get a scholarship. I didn't have a car, without a c ar, there was no daycare. I got the scholarship and asks if he can talk to me afterwards, and benefit from remedial English. >> Yeah. and got all those skills. all because my thesis got failed. >> [LAUGH] >> That's amazing. it was Riding In Cars With Boys. Riding In Cars With Boys. horribly, under dramatized. >> You're heart must of I got a job at Manhattan Ink. >> Obviously devastated about it. because it has happened so so collapse, cry, I bet I could get freelance. now I have all these connections. and a friend had a front page piece Village Voice was a big deal then. about being an Italian American feminist was a cop too, and she said cool go ahead. my Mentor, Richard Price Bev you can get a book contract with this. would go to the book agents and say, a Preemptive offer from Disney. $400,000 when the movie is made. and you let them know by midnight tonight. an awful lot like bullying. oh my god, what did I do? made in my entire life that I would. was $10,000 up to that time. Fox Came in with exactly the same money, you, we want you involved, and so on. does money equal happiness? to tell you the truth. probably 20 years., different therapists. house in Mexico, in my own bed. a dark night of the soul. like I've gotta get out. all love allow things like this to happen? I think was created all in love? I will never be the same person again. why would I want to be the same person? I used to feel so sorry for you. always depressed, and it was true. rape, because I mean it was horrible. interview, and I'm gonna repeat it here. and walked outside with it, and and thought, wow, had lived all its little spider life in out of it, and is in the grass. and put me somewhere else and life and you know reading the mystics and life is difficult, the best of everything, is leading you along. how one thing is gonna lead to another. in my MFA program I thought, I'm not gonna write for be that kind of writer. to write a little led to then a longer thing in a magazine. I wouldn't have known that, and been rigid about, no, this is what I am. you don't know how it's gonna happen. take a real look at them, and actually amazing advice. trying to do it a lot. >> It feels good, doesn't it? my Geography's getting a little better. GM, so my family and are affected by what happened. in those companies at the time and revolution of this is America and it is nothing anymore. taken over by renegade artists. decay, we see possibility, you know? you can't know decay, but try to reconcile the unity of opposites. us here and did the whole breaking and totally trespass. >> Totally trespass, amazing architecture still inside. yeah, just left suddenly. say, oh my God, it's not safe, an older performance piece, New Orleans with Hurricane Katrina. that I want you guys to hear. dirt dug, foundation deep. in a castle, a hundred room shy. than my fair share. mansions with more heart than flesh and souls between the walls and moon you can hear them laughing. raggedy roof, my own to comfort. through my flat black nose, but when you ain't never had nothing. like home to you, it's mine. going to leave for Chicago. these kinda fake buildings. wanna get out running again. to regenerate Detroit. think that I should become a professor. things that I was like huh, maybe, at in my life right now I'm feel like school's for sure gonna take a year off. then she reached out to her friend and him and watched like an interview with guy's amazing And he looks like me. I even put that in my email, I was like, to somebody who has similar experiences as that's huge. segregated cities in the world. what have you, you can't talk about that marginalization, and disinvestment. that story that we don't talk about? have gone missing, and now, others in bringing those things back? critical thinking, I mean, started asking those questions? >> Kindergarten? 1492, sailed the ocean blue, and an entirely different story. India, but landed in the Bahamas, and I was just like, well, where people already are? how do you discover that? I was like, the teacher is lying. >> Right, so we, I'm done, this school is just ridiculous. was really stern with us and saying, all these things about you, and negative expectations of you. do to prove them wrong? okay, now this is making sense. critical analysis, forthright change is those conditions intolerable and really accounted for my education, outside of traditional school space. happen in schools. that's not necessarily the norm. cuz I'm feeling like we got the same kind institution in itself, and you should think about being a professor, I think it's for you. high school, I was like, you know what, then that changed for me. when did you make that decision? views on the educational institution, that educational institution? is Monday and Tuesday. this research time, it's freedom of schedule here. organizations, young folks, schools, but schools, so actually work with folks, as I think is happening with these folks, writing about what I do in those spaces. confined to the institution, because influencing how you interact in that work. have to worry about as much. happiness amidst all that? working with gang-involved youth, and are you happy, are you content? he was like, when I see the same things that he spent most of his life in prison, in the community I work in. an ability to wake up, others, be in a space of others who we don't appreciate those small things, we do start to engage in these bad habits. anxiety come in. perpetually ask questions, and the folks who answer them. you can think and create with. age. the higher educational institution, and who don't have access. justice high school, and a professor into this whole other space. so, I mean, professor's looking good right now. the educational institution itself. I'm gonna go back to school. other doors just opened up. a half weeks now. of been my life for the last two months. that is right now. was brought up to really work hard, so we've experienced and that we've learned. the program you just watched. to define their own roads in life. the Roadtrip Nation experience at Willow Glen High School, and I'm a senior. a conference in Stanford. bunch of business people. doing when they were my age? endure when they were our age? the obstacles you had to face? what you were doing when you were our age? not to be afraid to fail. a decision and be definitive about it, perfect information, outcome than if you sit and do nothing. them to be that open, but me asking their life story. in speaking to people. after failure, there's success. sharing the lessons you've learned Take 15 

The road-trippers interview writer Beverly Donofrio at her home in Long Island before they head on to Detroit, where they talk to spoken word poet Airea Dee Matthews about possibility and growth in an unlikely place. In Chicago, Tele'jon reconsiders his reservations about going back to school when the team interviews Professor David Stovall.

Rounding the Bend

Chicago is one of the most segregated cities in the world. what have you, you can't talk about that marginalization and disinvestment. that story that we don't talk about? have gone missing and with others in bringing those things back. of critical thinking, asking questions first. started asking those questions? >> Kindergarten? forthright change, those conditions intolerable and my education. perpetually ask questions. folks that you can think and create with. >> I think that's critical 

Community

Dedication

Passion

David Stovall Highlight

(David) Chicago's one of the most segregated cities in the world. about gang issues hyper-segregation, disinvestment. we don't talk about? that have gone missing responsibility to those things back?' To get to that level of like critical thinking, asking questions first. those questions? Kindergarten. Kindergarten? You know, once I got the bogus Columbus story, the ocean blue, entirely different stories. trying to find India called folks the wrong name." five-year-old mind, do you discover something do you discover that?" five-year-old mind, I was like, lying." So we-we, I'm done, ridiculous. this? a teacher who was really‚ about you and have expectations of you. to prove them wrong?" "Oh, oh, okay. sense." analysis, forthright change have found those conditions to change those conditions. for my education. a bit of that traditional school space. longer to really understand, process of thinking happen in schools. necessarily the norm. Even with that perception of education, got like the same kinda, institution itself. of mentors tell me like, about being a professor. think it's for you." senior year in high school, for me. you make that decision? even with these views that educational institution? So my classes meet twice a week. teaching assignment" use, you know use that time the rest of the, or what have you. thought about that, of schedule here. community organizations, time to be in schools.' opposed to just pontificating happening with these folks. folks. of the research, do in those spaces, to worry about institution because little to do with influencing that's a thing that have to worry about as much. How do you find happiness amidst all of that? gang-involved youth, like, "How do you"-- are you content?" with me, he's like I can be content. that ruin my life"-- his life in prison-- the uh, to the kids that I work in." contentment? Happiness is in the little things, right? up‚ halfway decent day, actually build with others, are also doing this work. those small things, in these bad habits. in, that's where, um, this, and anxiety come in. perpetually ask questions with the folks and create with. this day and age. 

Culture

Education

Focus

Interview

Cuz I'm feeling like we got the same institution in itself. >> And I've had a bunch of mentors tell you should think about being a professor. high school, I was like, you know what, when did you make that decision? views on the educational institution, that educational institution? assignment is Monday and Tuesday. their research time. the rest of the time or what have you. it's freedom of schedule here. organizations, young folks, that time to be in schools. opposed to just pontificating about what writing about what I do in those spaces. to the institution because the institution how you interact in that work. have to worry about as much. 

Planning

The Institution

I once talked to a man who's been working with gang involved youth, and so same question, are you happy? be content when I see the same things that he spent most of his life in prison, in the community that I work in. >> So where do you find contentment? right? it's a weather-wise. build with others, are also doing this work. those small things, we do start to engage in these bad habits. anxiety come in. perpetually ask questions and who will answer them. So think and that you can think and create with. >> I think that's critical 

Beliefs & Faith

Contentment

For me, the driving force is what is that story that we don't talk about? that have gone missing? with others in bringing those things back? like critical thinking, started asking those questions? you know 1492 sailed the ocean blue and entirely different story. but landed in the Bahamas and mind I was just like, where people already are? how do you discover that? like the teacher is lying. >> I'm done with this I mean why are we doing it? was really stern with us in saying, look, things about you and have these particular are you going to do to prove them wrong? oh, oh, okay. analysis forthright change those conditions intolerable and right? really accounted for my education. 

Experience

Driving Force

In a lot of the recovery rhetoric, people talk about a moment of clarity. of clarity that would happen. moment of clarity to say, this is what education is and professors in college, and not necessarily a sign of intelligence. critical analysis, forthright change those conditions intolerable and really accounted for my education. 

Self-Reflection

Moment of Clarity

Everything from exercising, eating right, it sounds so cliche, but high stress environments, right, existence is perpetually being threatened. that really becomes important, so the joy is in those smaller things. me of the work to be done. 

Character

Hard Work

Pressure

Simplicity

Little Things

We have another interview, of identifying what would break her heart, then working to counteract. it is in that space around our anger, And directed, and organized with, and I think, a place like Chicago which has become educational deform if you want to talk it, reform in the country. 

Negativity

Educational Deform

I applied again for grad school and I got in. in-between that year, I actually talked to work in an organization, and we were like, resources from those jobs in going to med school, in going to law school. finishing up our PhDs. communities that we had been working with? me was to bring resources from like the ones that I come from. not just for what, now with who? community organizations, and then now right, so it's not just a PhD for what? able to kinda push myself around that and these spaces on the ground that you got a PhD. what does that mean for real life issues that folks have? 

David Stovall

Associate Professor

Videos

David Stovall

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Education

Politics

Teaching / Mentoring

Day to Day

Skills & Qualities Beyond School

Advice for Getting Started

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Myself:

Interviewed By

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