When you were younger, people asked you, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” For some kids, they have always known what they wanted to be, and that answer has never changed. For one new student teacher at Westford Academy, Olivia O’Connor, that answer was always changing until she finally found the one thing she is most passionate about: writing.
O’Connor is participating in a teacher’s assistant program through UMass Lowell, which allows her to work with English teachers Rebecca Shaw’s C and D blocks and Christopher Bramanti’s A and F blocks.
When she attended Peabody High School, O’Connor planned to be a lawyer. However, she later realized that she was not passionate about the field, and her goal shifted to becoming a writer.
“I was pre-law, and I was gonna be a lawyer, and I realized I hated it, and the only thing I’d ever loved was writing,” O’Connor said.
O’Connor wanted a job that would allow her to write and, at the same time, financially support herself. She considered teaching but was unsure of how much she would enjoy it. Once she began graduate school, O’Connor realized she would love the responsibilities associated with teaching. However, although O’Connor is working as a student teacher now, her ultimate goal is still to become a writer.
“After I finish my student teaching, I will get my [Master of Fine Arts] for creative writing, and work on a manuscript that I would be able to send to publishers, and then start my career from there,” O’Connor said.
While O’Connor has clear plans for her future as a writer, she is currently adjusting to her new role at Westford Academy.
“It’s been a lot of fun, but it’s also been a completely new experience for me,” O’Connor said. “I’ve never worked in a school before. I’ve worked with children, but I’ve never worked with teenagers.”
Although she previously babysat, nannied, and helped teach five-year-olds hip-hop dance, O’Connor stated that working with high school students has required her to adapt in new ways.
“I’ve adapted by learning new skills and realizing, ‘[you might not be] perfect at everything on the first try, and that’s okay,'” O’Connor said.
As she continues to find her footing at WA, O’Connor is also making time for the things that bring her joy outside of school.
“I love to go to concerts. I love shopping. I love clothes,” O’Connor said. “I spend a lot of time with my friends and my family. I love going out to eat [and] trying different restaurants. I love traveling. I crochet a lot.”
O’Connor hopes to inspire students to follow their passions and work hard in school.
“It really is very cool to be smart and try in school. You can have so much more self-confidence and self-assurance when you try your best [and when you] can see your hard work pay off.” O’Connor said.
