Emily Lucas B.S. ’25, Special Education, Charles Butt Scholar.
What is your major and why did you choose it?
I am graduating in Special Education. I am currently doing my student teaching in an 18 and up transition program. After graduating, I hope to teach high school students or within a transition program in special education. I think what attracted me to special education and education in general is that my mom was an elementary teacher, and I grew up staying after school with my mom and helping her get her classroom ready at the beginning and end of the year. Those little moments of helping my mom sparked my interest in education. As I got older, I became involved with organizations such as Special Olympics, which really helped me to narrow down my interest to special education and realize the need that there is for good special education teachers.
How are you hoping to make an impact in the world through special education?
I plan to teach in the Austin area. My goal is for students with disabilities in and around Austin to feel supported and seen and feel included by their school and community. I hope that I can be a person who can help bridge the inclusion gap that is seen at schools and uphold UT’s standards for being a good teacher, as well as make a difference in students’ lives and their families’ lives through academic coursework.
How did your time at COE help prepare you for your career path?
I am so grateful to UT and their teaching program in particular because they gave us lots of opportunities to work with students one-on-one and teach through our internships and student teaching. Our internships allowed us to go into different types of classrooms within special education and work with different ages of students. When I first came to UT, I thought I wanted to work with elementary school students, but through coursework and internships I was placed in an 18 and up transition program and I realized that I love this, and I want to continue working with high school students.
How do your dreams now compare to what you had in mind when you first arrived at UT?
When I came to UT, I knew I wanted to work in special education and I knew I wanted to work with students, I just thought it would be with younger students. As I have gained more experience and had more of an opportunity to work with students, I realized I really enjoy working with high school students. When I think of my dreams and where I see myself working as a teacher, I see myself working with high school students and making them feel loved and cared for and helping them achieve their academic goals. I want my classroom to be a place where students feel safe and supported. I want every student who walks through my door to be cared for deeply and to feel that when they come through the door.
What are your standout memories of your time on the Forty Acres?
One of the memories that comes up is attending football games, which was always a really fun way to be a part of the UT community. Another thing that comes to mind is our classes, such as children’s literature, which taught us how to read children’s stories. I didn’t realize there was so much that went into that. Also, my special education classes with my mentors and all of the work they put into finding placements for us. I always felt really supported by my mentors and cohort coordinators and the strong interest they had in us bettering ourselves academically and professionally as future teachers. I think back to a lot of the conversations I had with my mentors and with teachers in the field and how that really impacted how I view education, myself as a teacher and my goals as an educator. I was also a COE ambassador and was able to attend a lot of College of Education events and it was so fun being able to help and share with prospective and incoming students.
What message do you have for the next generation of COE students?
Have fun and really take in every moment that you are with friends and mentors. Be present in those conversations and in those events. Be proactive with your academic goals and don’t procrastinate on assignments. Everyone is on a different timeline but at the end of the day nobody is behind and nobody is ahead. It is okay if you don’t get the classes you want, you will get them in the future. Take your time, you are not in a rush and your own timeline is the perfect timeline for your four years. Take care of yourself and make sure you are resting and eating and taking care of your wellbeing because you can’t learn without taking care of yourself first.
