Favorite Parts of Working in the Education Industry as a Principal
Natale, a Principal at The SEED School, finds the greatest reward in "the impact that you can make working with children," particularly the long-term effects, citing examples of students sharing life updates and successes years after graduation as bringing "a lot of joy." This highlights the deeply fulfilling nature of Natale's career in education, focusing on the lasting impact of mentorship.
Education, Youth Development, Mentorship, Long-Term Impact, Rewarding Career
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Natale Mejia
Principal
The SEED School of Los Angeles County
UCLA Class 2010
The Johns Hopkins University, Class of 2013, MsEd. in Urban Education; USC, Class of 2020, Ed.D in Educational Leadership
Ethnic & Related Studies
Education
Education
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Impact on students' lives: Natale finds immense joy in witnessing the long-term growth and achievements of her students, from graduation to career and personal milestones. This highlights the rewarding aspect of working with young people and the lasting impact educators can have.
2. Long-term relationships with students: Natale maintains connections with former students through various channels (calls, texts, social media), showcasing the enduring bonds formed in education and the personal satisfaction derived from these relationships.
3. Seeing the results of hard work: Natale emphasizes the joy of observing the positive outcomes of her work, describing it as "seeing the seeds that we plant grow." This speaks to the intrinsic rewards of impacting students' lives and shaping their futures
Transcript
What do you enjoy most about being in your industry?
The impact you can make working with children is significant. You don't always see their growth in the moment, week, month, or even year, but I love it. It brings a lot of joy to my heart when my kids have graduated.
I was a middle school teacher, so seeing them go from middle school to high school, or from high school to college, is wonderful. They'll call, text, or find me on Instagram or Facebook just to share their celebrations.
It brings me a lot of joy to hear their life updates. Whether they're getting married, having kids, or sharing news like, "Excuse me, I got a scholarship," or "I was able to start that business I shared with you."
It's like you get to see the impact. It's like the seeds that we plant, and being able to see that seed grow brings me a lot of joy.