Ryan Gillespie Email and Phone Number

The next generation is counting on us to guide them to success. That is why I am dedicated to the care and education of today’s youth. This began when I was young and felt the failures of the generation before me. I saw their mistakes and knew I wanted to prevent their reoccurrence. So, I set on a path that first led me to counsellorship and now, has brought me to secondary education. In middle school, I fought everyday battles that preteens fight. Through that, I found peace at my first job volunteering as a junior counselor at Eastern Shore Bay Camp for a summer. As a junior counselor, I didn't have much authority, but I was happy to help where I could. I would clean, help with arts and crafts, and manage smaller conflicts between the kids. I counseled a younger group, ages 7-9. After that summer, I was promoted to afterschool counselor, where I had similar duties, but also tutored. I managed ages 5-12 since fewer kids attended afterschool. The next summer I was promoted to a paid counselor. For the next three years, I went between summer camp counselor and afterschool counselor. It was the tutoring, though, that made me realize my passion for teaching. I then spent a year nannying for a family in great need. I spent that year cooking, cleaning, tutoring, and planning activities for two kids. This job required a lot of individual responsibility, but I was eager for challenge. I also guided the kids through an online school program which taught them to read.After spending so many years working with kids, I tried switching it up to broaden my skills. I worked at All Baldwin Dry Cleaners, where I organized clothes alphabetically and worked the check out. I learned how to work with adults rather than kids, which was vastly different. However, I gained a few new skills: Customer service and money handling skills in a retail environment. This job was not a fit for me. I was unhappy here and it affected my efficiency. So, I worked until the end of the summer, when I began another nanny job.I am now a student at the UAB, and I work an afterschool care job at the YMCA in Hoover, Alabama. I am majoring in Biology and minoring in Philosophy, Chemistry, and High School Education. In my course work, I have observed and taught 5th and 8th grade lessons. This summer I will be working as a Teaching Fellow with Breakthrough Birmingham. Here, I will work with underprivileged middle school kids and help guide them to success in life.