Alumni Profile: Christine
Art teacher, St James Jr. High School
BA in art education, class of 1983
When you first came to UIUC did you know for sure what you wanted to do as a major/career?
No.
How many majors/careers did you "go through" during your years here and how did you finally come to a choice?
I changed my major at the beginning of my fourth year, which caused me to graduate a year later than I had planned.
What was one UIUC event, memory, person, class, that made a substantial difference in your career choices?
"Saturday School" with the head of the Art Education Department was the greatest and most beneficial experiences I had at the U of I.
What was your first job after you earned your degree?
Art teacher and Art Department head at Sacred Heart of Mary H.S.
How did you land your first career related job?
I sent my résumé to every school within a 40 mile radius of my home.
Please list all positions that you have held since graduation.
- Art teacher / department head, Sacred Heart of Mary H.S. (1983-1987)
- Stay at home mother (1987-1995)
- Art teacher, St. James School/J.R. High, grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 (1995-Present)
What is your current occupation and how did you come to it?
Art teacher at St. James School/J.R. High. I had two children in the school when it was announced they needed a part-time art teacher. I applied, interviewed, and got the job.
If you changed career paths after school, did you make a conscious choice to make the change, was it forced on you or did it naturally evolve?
I also paint watercolors and sell a couple a year. I sometimes substitute at St. James School, and I do clerical work for my husband at home (4-10 hours/week).
What advice would you give to an FAA student who might be interested in your current or past careers?
Be willing to do some things that you didn't think you would be willing to do in order to eventually get exactly what you want.
What advice can you give an FAA student who is currently undecided about their future career?
Don't settle for something just to graduate. Try whatever it takes to find out exactly what you want. I changed my major senior year, which cost me an extra year in school, but it was the best decision I ever made. I would have been miserable as a graphic design major and it would have been very difficult going back to school later in order to change my career.