Melissa True
Edgewood ISD
San Antonio, TX USA
"We all have to choose careers that we LOVE, regardless of the pay scale."
Career Roadmap
Melissa's work combines: Education, Non-Profit Organizations, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Sanford-Fritch High School
Bachelor's Degree
Elementary Education and Teaching
Midwestern State University
Graduate Degree
Educational Leadership and Administration, General
Texas Tech University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Director of Guidance and Counseling:
Bachelor's Degree: Elementary Education and Teaching
Graduate Degree: Educational Leadership and Administration, General
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I was really good in math in high school—it was my best subject. So I decided that I wanted to be an accountant. I first entered college as an Accounting major.
2.
When I failed my accounting classes, I realized that I was really struggling and I did not enjoy my chosen profession. I took an aptitude test at my college which told me that I should serve others.
3.
I was given my top two options in my aptitude test: Education and Gerontology (working with the elderly). I chose to go into Education as an Elementary Education major with math emphasis.
4.
I earned my college degree in Elementary Education and teaching certificate in Texas and began teaching. I taught in several districts around the state and with all kinds of students.
5.
I found myself giving other teachers advice and in leadership roles often, and realized I enjoyed helping other teachers grow. I went back to school for my Masters in Education to be a principal.
6.
It took me five tries, five rounds of interviewing with 4 rejections, to land my first principal job. I was a principal at elementary school and loved it, but had to move due to my husband's job.
7.
After 7 years of being a principal in the elementary grades, I was asked to step up to high school. I worked with students who struggled emotionally, academically, and socially. I found my calling..
8.
Now I am a counseling director, and I get to apply all of my experience working with staff and struggling students to create an environment that is supportive and focused on their well-being.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
I was discouraged from teaching because it does not earn a high salary. I was encouraged to pursue accounting, which I absolutely hated—I enjoyed working with people more.
How I responded:
We all have to choose careers that we LOVE, regardless of the pay scale. I chose to go into education because I find it so rewarding working with students, their families, and their teachers. As you gain skills and become better at your job, you will have opportunities to grow and move into higher-paying jobs if you choose to pursue that.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
As a college student, I was on my own. My parents could not afford to give me money while I was in college, so it was necessary for me to work to pay my bills. I learned the value of hard work and how to use my time wisely by juggling work / school.