Alexis Stackhouse鈥檚 love of volunteering leads to a career in education

Written byElizabeth Rose-Arcuri

鈥淲ithout teachers, you don鈥檛 have these other jobs, other occupations. I wanted to make a difference in someone鈥檚 life and I felt through teaching, that鈥檚 my way of changing the world and making my impact on the world.鈥

Alexis Stackhouse
Major
Middle School Education
Hometown
New Orleans, LA

Where I'm From

I moved to Lafayette from New Orleans and didn鈥檛 know many people on campus.

Where I Am

I鈥檓 in multiple student organizations and majoring in middle school education.

Where I'm Going

I鈥檓 going to make an impact on the world as a teacher, and eventually, I鈥檒l become the principal of a school one day.

Alexis Stackhouse鈥檚 longtime commitment to volunteering led her to major in middle school education at the 青青草视频.

鈥淚鈥檓 always putting other people before me, and that makes me feel good. Putting a smile on someone else鈥檚 face, like when I鈥檓 volunteering, it's not for me 鈥 it鈥檚 for the people I鈥檓 helping, and I love to see that.鈥

Alexis started volunteering at summer camps when she was a freshman in high school, and that love for helping others led to her nursing before she realized education was her passion.

鈥淚 took some education classes and I was like, 'Yes, this is it. This is my purpose,'鈥 Alexis said.

Her freshman year at UL Lafayette, Alexis started volunteering at New Hope Tutoring in the afternoons, and that solidified her career choice as a middle school teacher.

鈥淵ou're always going to have a job in education,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 love that stability, and I love that you鈥檙e able to do something that you truly love while you鈥檙e impacting other people."

鈥淲ithout teachers, you don鈥檛 have these other jobs, other occupations. So I wanted to make a difference in someone鈥檚 life, and I felt through teaching, that鈥檚 my way of changing the world and making my impact on the world.鈥

In the , which is part of the middle school education curriculum, Alexis observes in local schools to prepare her for student teaching.

鈥淵ou observe the students, and you observe the teachers in the grade levels you want to teach. You鈥檙e observing through their actions, how the students respond, and writing notes down,鈥 she explained.

In her classes on UL Lafayette鈥檚 campus, Alexis enjoys learning from professors鈥 experiences.

鈥淲e all talk as future educators and that has helped me open my perspective of so many things. The instructors and professors are all previous teachers and administrators, so they know 鈥 they've actually done it,鈥 she said. 鈥淣etworking with them, and them being honest about their experiences, that is what is going to help me persevere in this career.鈥

Getting Involved on Campus

When Alexis moved to Lafayette from New Orleans, she knew very few people from home 鈥 so she decided to join student organizations.

The first organization she joined was the , and now she鈥檚 their vice president.

鈥淚 know we鈥檙e at a predominantly white institution, so I joined them because they looked like me, and I knew they were for me. There was nothing but intelligent, strong, beautiful black women in this organization and I wanted to be a part of that,鈥 Alexis said. 鈥淭he mentors I鈥檝e gained from this organization, the professional development and going to conferences 鈥 so many opportunities have come from this."

青青草视频's Black Women Leadership Association

鈥淚t鈥檚 allowed me connect with people on so many different levels 鈥 on campus and even outside the University. I was able to meet a fellow teacher, and she took me under her wing and let me shadow her while gaining some good advice about my career," Alexis said. "It鈥檚 great to meet people and also be able to influence other women.鈥

Alexis is also the director of event planning for , a peer advisor for the Academic Success Center, and a member of the , the , and was previously a .

Balancing her schoolwork, her volunteering, and her involvement on campus has taught Alexis a lot.

鈥淚t also teaches you time management and how to multitask 鈥 we do study hall, meetings, community service, and fun bonding events 鈥 but it forces you to stay on top of your work because you can鈥檛 go to those things if you鈥檙e stuck doing work," she said. "From my own experience, I鈥檝e had to bring work with me on the go 鈥 and that is okay, because we are students first.鈥

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