#WhyIChoseEducation: Benjamin Snead

As part of Celebrating 90 Years of NC State Education, we asked you to share your stories of why you chose education and why you love the NC State College of Education. Below is one of the many stories we received demonstrating how we’re leading the way in education in North Carolina and beyond.

Name: Benjamin Snead
Graduation Year: 2017
Program: Technology Engineering & Design Education
Career Role & Responsibilities: I am a teacher at Holly Springs HS (go Hawks!) where I teach Drafting I and Technology Engineering and Design I. I am our PLT leader and adviser to the video game club.

Why did you enter the field of education?
It was a happy accident. I learned really late into my engineering degree that I did not enjoy the work and my talents lay elsewhere. I knew some students and faculty in the College of Education through my graphics minor. I had always had very strong opinions on education growing up. I was homeschooled then sent to a private school, and my mother always communicated the importance of a good education. Some of that must have stuck because as I took classes in education I became more and more invested. I also found out that I had a natural talent for building rapport with students. Now, I honestly have trouble imagining working another career. Nothing will ever be quite as challenging, stressful, yet rewarding as teaching is. I have so much room for growth and I have big plans for the future. I am becoming the change I want to see in the world daily.

Why did you choose to earn your degree from the NC State College of Education?
I was already here for half an engineering degree, so just dumb luck really. Turns out NC State College of Education grads are REALLY well respected here in Wake County. I had multiple interviewers mention that as we talked pedagogy, and I had no trouble finding a job given the high demand for technology teachers. I had accepted a job weeks before I walked across the stage at graduation.