Looking Back: Southeast Region Excellence in Education recipient: Victoria Merritt, SC Upsilon

Many teachers share memories of “playing school” with their dolls, which helped them realize that they would some-day become teachers. For me, it was not until high school that I realized that the influence of my mother, my passion for coaching?swimming, and the relationships created with?my own teachers would lead me to my calling to become an educator. As an immigrant?from Argentina, my mother faced numerous?linguistic and cultural challenges while pursuing a degree in education to become an ESOL teacher. She demonstrated compassion for students and instilled in them (and me) the importance of an education. At 16, I became an assistant coach for a local swim team and quickly realized that my passion for swimming was enhanced by my love for watching young athletes develop athletically, cognitively, and emotionally. The positive experiences with incredible educators throughout my schooling (I am proud to say many of my former teachers are now my sisters in A?K) and the hands-on experiences as a Teacher Cadet in high school taught me about the importance of relationships in education.?In 2011, I graduated from Clem-son University with a degree in Secondary Education: History. I have been blessed to teach in schools that have afforded me the opportunity to work with students in organizations like the varsity swim team, Model United Nations, Teacher Cadets, and the Quiz Bowl team. I believe that learning takes place both in and out of the classroom, and each of these organizations positively influenced me throughout my formative high school years. I am proud to share that joy and love with current students. As a Teacher Cadet instructor, I am passionate about increasing diversity in the teaching profession, while fostering a love for teaching in our “homegrown” educators in the state of South Carolina. I am still at the beginning of my teaching journey, but I look forward to continuing building relationships, empowering, and influencing the future students of South Carolina.?