Missouri State University

Skip to content Skip to navigation
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

College of Education News

Brittnie Morrison on her first day of kindergarten and on her first day of teaching. She is standing in front of the same school in each photo.

Taking the leap to follow her passion

MSU student embraces a change when she discovers her love of teaching.

October 7, 2022 by Strategic Communication

Alumna Brittnie Morrison, ‘21, started at Missouri State University as a pre-nursing major.  

“As a first-generation student, everyone talked about how proud they were of me and how proud they were to say they were going to have a nurse in the family,” Morrison said.  

But in her third semester, she realized that she lost her passion for nursing.  

“I couldn’t help but feel like I was wasting my time and money working toward a goal I no longer cared about,” she said. 

She contemplated dropping out of college, but her job at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield took her in an unexpected direction.  

The switch to teaching 

As the semester progressed, Morrison learned that she loved working with kids. Her job became her escape from the stresses of college. 

“No matter how much stress I felt from my schoolwork, I always felt instant relief when I walked through the doors of the Boys & Girls Club,” she said. “That’s when I knew education was my calling.” 

Morrison changed her major to elementary education and began classes in spring 2019.  

“Once I changed my major, Missouri State became home,” she said. “I had my first practicum at York Elementary School. I walked out of the school and began crying because I knew I was in the right spot.” 

Morrison said that the professors in the College of Education went out of their way to make every student feel like they belong.  

“The passion they have for teaching is radiating,” she said. “There aren’t enough words to express how proud I am to be a bear.”  

Back to her roots 

Morrison completed her student-teaching and is now a fifth-grade teacher at the school district she went to for kindergarten through high school.  

“The Raymore-Peculiar community helped raise me,” she said. “I have so many amazing memories from Peculiar Elementary as a student, and now I get to make more as a teacher.”  

Teaching has been the most rewarding job she’s ever had. Her favorite part is building relationships with her students. 

“That’s truly why I teach. If I can make a difference in just one child’s life, then I am happy.”

Morrison feels that her time at MSU prepared her to be a successful teacher.  

“But it is tough. For anyone who is in an education program, I suggest they lean on their professors and peers,” she said. “They were always there for me when I needed clarification, and I am grateful for the experience.” 

Explore education majors 

Filed Under: COE Alumni, Elementary Education

Comments

  1. Radwan says

    October 12, 2022 at 7:46 pm

    I wish you all the best

Subscribe via email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 11 other subscribers

Categories

  • Bear POWER
  • Child Life Studies
  • COE Alumni
  • COE Faculty
  • COE Staff
  • COE Students
  • Counseling
  • Early Childhood and Family Development
  • Educational Administration
  • Elementary Education
  • Graduate Program
  • Literacy
  • Secondary Education
  • Special Education
  • Student Affairs
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • November 2020
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
Make your Missouri statementMake your Missouri statement
  • Last Modified: October 7, 2022
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Disclosures
  • EO/AA/M/F/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
  • © 2013 Board of Governors, Missouri State University
  • Contact Information