Sean McComb
Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts
Baltimore, MD USA
"I saw my door of opportunity closing, but a teacher put his hand out and held it open for me. So to know that I could spend my life doing that for other kids became my highest calling."
Career Roadmap
Sean's work combines: Education, Writing, and Teaching / Mentoring
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
I had to realize that even though I can't help everyone, I can make a difference for at least one kid. I celebrate my small successes and hope that my impact ripples out.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
English Language and Literature, General
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Graduate Degree
Education, General
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Certification
Higher Education/Higher Education Administration
Goucher College
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
Awarded "National Teacher of the Year" in 2014; at age 30, he was one of the youngest winners ever.
2.
Grew up with an alcoholic mother; says his home life started to affect his self-esteem, his desire to learn.
3.
In eleventh grade, he had an AP English teacher who was "on fire for literature," made him want to start excelling again.
4.
Suddenly, Sean was staying up late, working his hardest to impress this teacher; says that by making him feel valued, his teacher turned his life around.
5.
Found he had a "gnawing discontent" with the lack of opportunities afforded to students; decided he could be the person to change that.
6.
Saw kids who had a ton of potential and just needed someone to push them, so he became that person.
7.
Says the teachers who left an impression on him were unique and authentic, so he puts forth an effort to be honest and open in the classroom.
8.
Believes you need to find something that makes you come alive, or find something that bothers you and work to change it.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
You can't help everybody.
How I responded:
I had to realize that even though I can't help everyone, I can make a difference for at least one kid. I celebrate my small successes and hope that my impact ripples out.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
My mother was an alcoholic, and home life became chaotic. That stress started to manifest itself in my self esteem and my expectations for myself at school, and I started to really waver.