Rachel Wall

Why FSU?

I pursued a master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at FSU for two reasons. First, the online program allowed me the flexibility to continue working full-time while continuing my education. Second, after reviewing other TESOL programs around the United States, I determined that the courses offered at FSU met the areas where I wanted to improve myself as a professional future educator.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

I chose to pursue a master’s degree in TESOL because, while I had been teaching English online and through volunteer services, I felt I lacked the foundations needed to pursue a career in teaching English professionally, especially since my undergraduate degree was not in education. Since studying at FSU, I have had the privilege of learning from active researchers in the field of TESOL, particularly Dr. Phil Hiver and Dr. Shaofeng Li, who have provided invaluable feedback, making me a better student and future educator.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

When people discover I am molding a career to teach English as a second language, I get one of two responses. The first is a bit narrow: “Good for you because I don’t know anything about grammar.” And the second is a bit mocking: “Bless you for being so brave because I could never teach children.” Both make me laugh because neither accurately represents my future aspirations. Teaching English is more than just teaching grammar. Teaching is about fostering human relationships, cultural exchange, and empowering willing learners, especially since I aim to teach in nations where people, particularly women, lack fundamental educational rights. My work is important because it is about fostering growth and liberation.

Describe an aspect of your military service that is especially memorable or exceptional

Due to exaggerated, inaccurate military representation in film entertainment, most people are unaware of the humanitarian operations that military service members conduct. One of my most memorable deployments while serving in the US Marine Corps occurred in the Republic of the Philippines during a humanitarian operation in which my squadron supplied civilians with food and fresh water after a tsunami. During the operation, I patrolled the airfield where we stationed our helicopters and worked directly with a branch of the Philippine military. This opportunity allowed me to represent the United States military in a positive light while interacting with the citizens of that country, where sharing food and exchanging stories past the hours of our patrols.

Tell us how your military service provided skills and experiences that you were able to apply to your graduate studies

After completing boot camp and combat training with the United States Marine Corps, I flew to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, to begin training as an avionics technician on military aircraft. On the first day of my course, my instructors asked me to explain how a circuit breaker worked. Being eighteen years old with no background in electrical theory, I could not answer the question. Embarrassed and daunted, I realized I had much to learn but feared I did not have the intellectual ability to succeed. As I sank into my seat, my drill instructors’ shouts, “adapt and overcome,” echoed in my ears. I sat up straight and dedicated every waking moment of the following year to studying. Within two years of entering the fleet, I earned one of the highest credentials in my squadron as a Collateral Duty Inspector (CDI), where I oversaw and ensured the quality of aircraft maintenance. The confidence I gained starting a career from scratch while treading the current of external doubt as a woman in a male-dominated field has allowed me the mindset to adapt and overcome challenges today.

Career aspirations

My career aspirations take me down the path of teaching English as a second language in third-world nations while emphasizing the importance of literacy development and women empowerment. Upon graduating from FSU with an M.S. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), I aim to gain more teaching experience by completing a two-year volunteer service with the Peace Corps. Additionally, I will continue pursuing my international volunteer services with NGOs such as Love Volunteers, where I volunteered in the past, teaching English and offering support to underprivileged women in Arusha, Tanzania.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

My advice for anyone considering graduate school, especially for those just completing their undergraduate studies, is not to pursue a master’s degree simply because you do not feel prepared to enter the workforce or because you think it is the next expected step. Explore the world. Travel beyond the comforts of your backyard. Embrace the discomfort of learning from your mistakes. Do not take the path of least resistance. Through the joys of travel and the inconveniences of the unknown, you will find what fuels your passion, which marks your time to pursue a master’s degree.

Accomplishments during graduate career

In 2019, I was awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, allowing me the opportunity to study abroad for one semester in Ifran, Morocco. Being a finalist for the 2024 HSF Graduate Student Excellence in Visual Arts Award is my proudest accomplishment in my graduate career. Though this award is not related to my master’s degree, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), I find art empowering as a type of nonverbal language and something I wish to dedicate more toward upon graduating from FSU.

Unfortunately, as an online graduate student working full-time as a law enforcement dispatcher with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), I have not been able to participate with organizations through FSU. However, volunteer services are an essential attribute I uphold in my life. Currently, I volunteer with the Apalachee Audubon Society, where I attend debris cleanups at Lake Alberta, a critical bird habitat in Tallahassee, Florida, and I volunteer as an English teacher through the Teachers for Ukraine Initiative, where I tutor Ukrainian refugees who wish to improve their English language skills.

Hobbies and interests outside of school

Not too long ago, my coworker learned that I do not have a television. She gasped, “What do you do in your spare time if you don’t watch television?” I chuckled because I never have spare time. If I am not at work, dispatching a call, or studying a research article for my next homework assignment, I am exploring – whether that is riding a bike in a state park, hiking a new trail, creating new dishes in the kitchen, learning a new vocabulary word in a second language, meeting new characters in a novel, or developing story plots in my writing. I am constantly exploring, leaving me with no spare time.