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Looking at a Mirror: Conversation between an Educator and Future Educators

By Isabella Castro

A short, hour-long program hosted during lunches, will soon lead the way for our future educators.

Introduction to Education 1400, run by Spanish teacher Amber Long, hosted a lunch and greet program for students interested in education. With many Fountain Inn High School teachers volunteering their lunch break to talk to students, the program opened many eyes to joining the South Carolina education system. With over 13 teachers, coaches, and administrators from each subject, students were given the chance to choose a teacher from a subject that they’re interested in studying. 

“Today, I think that they weren't necessarily talking to their teachers, but they were talking to teachers who I think could give them experience learning through their answers. It was also a little bit more of an informal setting than when you get a teacher up in front of the class talking, so it felt more like a one-on-one conversation. So for today, I chose matches that I thought these students could see themselves in this teacher,” Long said.

An opportunity like this mimics a mirror to show students what their future in teaching could look like. Students interested in a subject, such as math, were able to converse with math and science teachers, to ensure that's the future they want. 

“I feel that overall Teaching Ed has given me a better understanding of what teaching actually is. It's given me perspectives of people who’ve always wanted to teach, ones who didn't originally want to, and what got them to do it. Overall, I feel like the biggest part of it is the opportunity to go into classrooms and see what it actually feels like and actually get the opportunity to teach,” junior Rylan Trub said.

Teachers reflected on their past as both students and teachers. They were asked questions about their work/life balance, the best and worst parts of being a teacher, and how they navigate having students with different study methods. Being asked what made them become a teacher made them reflect on their past and often triggered a smile of remembrance.

“It was so cool just to explain my years of experience, kind of just share my story with them. I honestly felt a bit more appreciated as a teacher. It's really cool talking to the students here that might be interested because maybe one day they could teach alongside me,” Special Education teacher Elizabeth Poston said.

While these students have a long way to go before they end up teaching on their own, they are getting one step closer. FIHS has dozens of programs for every student to figure out what they’re interested in, teaching is just one of many.

Check out our new digital news source, THE FURY FLYER, which is run by our Journalism program.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!

The Class of 2026 will hold their Graduation Ceremony at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Friday, May 22nd, 2026 at 2:30 pm

Archive: Graduation Photos Class of 2025