“Make It Happen with Pure Joy”: One Student’s Path to Becoming an English Teacher

Randy Laist

Sep 25

3 min read

Gabriela Irias, roving reporter, short story writer, and wonderful human being, graduated from the University of Bridgeport with her BS in English and Professional Writing in 2026, and she is now enrolled in UB’s MS program in English Education. Wild Knights caught up with Gaby to talk about her experience in the School of Education, her professional goals, and her life philosophy.

WK: You recently graduated from UB with a BS in English & Professional Writing, and you started pursuing your MS from UB’s School of Education. What has the transition been like?

Gaby: Honestly, it's a pretty intense transition, but I am having such a nice time. The going to school part is not so intense as we only have in person classes on Tuesday's (although long, ending at 8:30pm). The classes are definitely interesting with the information and topics feeling a bit overwhelming but I'm sure it will all be "normal" to me one day. The professors are also extremely kind, helpful, and obviously passionate about what they do, making it all feel worthwhile.

WK: What’s your favorite thing about the graduate program?

Gaby: The best part is definitely my internship. I am currently interning at Brien McMahon High School in the Center for Global Studies in Norwalk, and I am absolutely loving it! The students are the absolute best and it allows me to have a great amount of time to also focus and prioritize my schoolwork while watching over and helping out my classes. I did not expect to be having such a great time but since they have me in the same rotation of classes, all those students have gotten used to me and seem to like me as a teacher which is a great feeling.

WK: What inspired you to become a teacher?

To be completely honest, it took a while for me to decide that I would be a teacher. I went into college as a Business student, with little to no care for business. I was being driven by the financial aspects of work rather than following a path I knew really mattered to me. I can remember from a young age always wanting to be a teacher, even having my own whiteboard at home that I’d use to teach an invisible class. I also grew up absolutely loving English. The subject flowed to me so easily and I had such a passion and love for it. The problem was that I’d left it all behind thinking I should try something else that may be financially better for me. Obviously, I had to grow out of that mindset. I attended Quinnipiac University my first two years of undergrad which is where I started as a business student. I remember finally attending one of the business seminars where there was a row of professors talking about all the random paths they had gone on before choosing education. One worked at NASA, another went through all of nursing school and worked as an RN for a good two years, and another worked in an office cubicle doing finance. They all had one thing in common: they absolutely hated their jobs and were driven by money. They had one message for us, which was to follow what we care for, do something that we truly love. By the next week, I applied to switch my major to English. And by my Sophomore year, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I know my skills, I know I have passion, and I know I can give to students what they deserve and what I have always loved within my English teachers. This is a teacher that makes you feel seen, a teacher that pushes you to the best of your ability, and a teacher that reminds you these lessons don’t end in the classroom but follow you in your own world.

WK: What advice do you have for other young people about how to succeed in college and how to pursue their goals?

I would say to follow exactly what you know is you. Forget about what others tell you, forget about the fear of trying something out, and remember what you have always been drawn to, what you know you have a passion for. Think about your life down the road, what holds meaning to you, what you know you can make happen not just through financial accomplishment, but what you can make happen with pure joy throughout the way.

I’d also make sure to remind young people starting college to stay focused, stay consistent. Don’t let yourself fall behind, and don’t let yourself forget the reason you’re studying so hard. Education is so important, feeding your brain is so important. Being in college is a huge accomplishment, and the hard work you put into it doesn’t go unseen.