Claire Doll
MSMU Class of 2024

(10/2024) A little about me

It might be no surprise seeing my name in this paper by now. I’ve written for the Emmitsburg and Woodsboro-Walkersville News-Journals since I was a sophomore at Mount St. Mary’s, back in 2021. While I wrote mainly for the Four Years at the Mount section, I also produced tons of feature articles, traveling around the area and meeting notable members of the community. Now, as a graduate of Mount St. Mary’s, I am super excited to have my own column! Each month, I’ll be reflecting on my journey as a new teacher and my post-grad life in all its entirety, and my writing will have a home in my favorite publication.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English. While I could recount all the extracurriculars and courses I involved myself in at the Mount, I’d rather reflect on the amazing experiences and friendships that have led me here today. I enjoyed drives down Annandale Road in the fall, solo trips to Gettysburg (shoutout to my favorite Starbucks on the Square!), eating dinner on the floor with my roommates, and capturing the sunrise on my way to the gym. I feel as though the Mount has given me memories to last a lifetime, and I am eternally grateful.

And I love writing. It’s one of my favorite things to do. Whenever I’m journaling, writing fiction, or crafting an article, I’m in my happy place (especially in a café). I write nearly every day in some shape or form, and it’s something I plan on pursuing for the rest of my life.

Why teaching?

When I was little, I owned American Girl Dolls. Lots of them. I’d ask for a doll every Christmas, and I’d give each one a personality. There was Kit, the writer, and Felicity, the rebel, and Molly, the smarty-pants. As my collection of dolls grew, I would set up desks in my basement (the little fold-out TV tray tables) and chairs. This would be my first ever classroom as a teacher. I would teach my dolls lessons on grammar, on chapter books, on writing (never on math). And even though my students couldn’t talk, I found great joy in rambling on and on about content that I loved with all my heart.

Fast forward through years of being a student. I encountered teachers who I still remember fondly today: my elementary school librarian who first introduced to me the beauty and magic of reading; my fifth-grade teacher who would stay after school with me to help me get into gifted math class; my seventh-grade science teacher who challenged me in my least-favorite class; my high school music teacher who showed me how joyous playing an instrument can be; my creative writing teacher, who has undoubtedly brought me into the whimsical world of writing. All the best educators, I’ve realized, teach more than content. They instill confidence and curiosity and creativity while nurturing bonds with students. Honestly, the very best teachers rarely specialize in content; they are devoted to fostering the well-roundedness of all their students.

In high school, I dabbled in different career choices. Everyone asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" as if "growing up" was an abstract, faraway thing. Only, it was just years away, and you don’t realize how the years speed up as you get older. I loved writing, so there was always the editing and publishing route. Or, professional writing. The truth was, however, I hated writing essays, and I despised any form of academic or research writing. I also couldn’t imagine sitting in an office all day. I thought about psychology, but then I’d have to take biology in college (seriously, I am not a science girl). There was really only teaching. I have been wanting to teach for as long as I can remember, even before I realized it was a real occupation.

I completed my student teaching in both local middle and high schools, and I truly do love many things about both age groups. In high school, I love that teachers can work with interesting, meaningful content. When I was in twelfth grade, we read Charlotte Bronte’s "Jane Eyre," and I was super engaged the entire novel. I also love how high school English can also be journalism, or film, or creative writing. In my internship, I learned that the students are skilled enough to not only read and write well, but also write to a particular theme, prompt, or audience and deeply engage with the text. I really enjoyed working with my eleventh graders and watching them interact with novels like "The Great Gatsby" or stories from "The House on Mango Street," where they could identify certain themes and find ways to relate the text to other elements, or themselves.

But when I student taught middle school, I absolutely loved how much personality, independence, and drive these students had. Although they’re learning more technical skills—skills that can grow mundane, such as reading comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and grammar—the students are bright, energetic, and often ready to learn. One of my favorite parts of teaching eighth grade was reading "The Outsiders" and watching the students marvel at the novel’s theme and its 1960s setting. Their classroom was always colorful, resourceful, and welcoming. My mentor teacher constantly kept the room adorned with plants, posters, and books, no matter if the kids read them or not. It was the best place to spend my four months last fall.

Although I also love younger kids, my observations and internships have helped me discover that I want to work with secondary students. I also have such a passion for reading and writing. I still hope to write creatively and publish my own works—this has always been a goal of mine. But part of me feels that my role as a writer will never be complete unless I devote my time to helping others write, too. Unless I ensure that the generations of writers after me are fully equipped to succeed, and unless I inspire others to read constantly and avidly.

When I look back on my childhood spent teaching American Girl Dolls, I smile and think of how life naturally creates these full circle moments. I have always had the passion to spread my love for writing, long before I chose my teaching career path.

So, where next?

Just recently, I have accepted a 7th grade English/Language Arts teaching position with Carroll County Public Schools. I am super excited to be close to both home as well as my former college community! As I spend the summer buying classroom decorations and preparing for the academic year, I also plan to keep this column as a "journal" of not only my teaching experiences, but also my post-grad life as well. What is it like to graduate college, then months later begin a full-time, life-altering job? How can I balance career, travel, and life? How can I also maintain my individual passions, coupled with my personal relationships? While I have already begun to miss some aspects of college, I feel excited and prepared to return to the classroom, this time as a real teacher. It’s all I’ve been waiting for, and I’m very thrilled to bring some of my favorite communities along for the ride.

Read other articles by Claire Doll