Getting to Know You: Devon O’Neill
Devon O’Neill — Elementary Teacher
Minor: Human Development
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Most recent employer: Metropolitan School, Frankfurt, Germany
How long did you work there?: 5 years
What is your favorite thing about being a WSU alum?
Cougar pride is unexplainable and I feel just as much a part of the Cougar family now as I did as a student. There isn’t a better feeling than being taken by surprise hearing someone yell “Go Cougs” as you pass by in your Coug gear or spotting a fellow Coug thousands of miles away from Pullman in Europe.
What is the most valuable thing you took away from the T&L program that still applies to you today?
I remember my professors saying time and time again that no lesson will ever go exactly as planned. No truer words have ever been spoken! Teaching keeps you on your toes and flexibility is key to being a successful teacher. Having multiple practicums throughout the T&L program was invaluable and those experiences probably taught me the most about teaching and were the reason I felt so prepared my first year.
What advice do you have for current students in the WSU teaching program?
If you have the chance to complete you student teaching abroad, go for it! I feel very fortunate to have been able to student teach on a U.S. Army base in Germany. It was a challenging and rewarding experience that paved the way for me to begin my career as an international teacher. Combining my passion for travel and teaching has been a dream come true and it would not have been possible without the opportunity provided by WSU!