When Amy Miller stepped onto a school campus as a student for the first time in 20 years, she felt a mix of excitement and nerves. Heading back to the classroom after two decades can be daunting, but for Miller, pursuing her education at 蘑菇视频网 (CWI) has turned into one of the best decisions of her life.
“Returning to school has reminded me there is always room for growth, and the trajectory of your life can take a turn at any moment,” Miller said.
That turn came once her two sons started school. After nearly a decade as a stay-at-home mom, Miller returned to the workforce at her youngest’s elementary school, where she also began volunteering to teach art lessons. That experience soon expanded beyond the school, leading her to offer art classes at local libraries and community events.
Miller’s love for art has been part of her life for as long as she can remember. Raised by a mother who is an artist, creativity was always present in her home. Though she stepped away from art while raising her family, she later rediscovered it and found it had become both a personal outlet and a way to connect with others.
Returning to work did more than reintroduce her to the workforce and art. It helped her discover a deeper passion for helping children learn and express themselves through it.
“Working with children has been the most rewarding and fulfilling job I have ever experienced,” Miller shared.
Miller enjoys helping children discover their hidden talents, watching them grow and seeing their confidence take shape. She believes art gives students a chance to express themselves, explore their imagination, and develop in ways traditional academics do not always reach.
“I am really excited about combining my passions,” Miller said. “It is kind of funny being 40 years old and finally figuring out what you are meant to do and what your passion is.”
Miller is positive working with children is the journey she wants to take with her life, but without a degree she is limited in the roles she can pursue within a school. While she loves volunteering, it doesn’t offer the time or space to dig into the concepts and hands-on work she wants to do with students.
That desire is what led her to start Elementary Education classes at CWI. Now, her coursework is allowing her to connect theory to practice, especially through lesson planning that mirrors the art instruction she hopes to deliver in the classroom.
“By earning my degree, I will have the knowledge and experience needed to step into a professional, full-time role as an educator,” Miller shared.
She also understands the lasting impact educators can have on a student’s life because of her own experiences. Before leaving high school early due to personal loss, Miller excelled academically and thrived in accelerated classes growing up. She shares the teachers she had helped her through difficult times and others have recognized her talents and have gone above and beyond to nurture them.
“It's those teachers that still impact me 20 years later I aspire to someday be,” Miller said. “My education here at CWI will give me the tools I need to hopefully be as effective as they were.”
Even as she returned to the classroom herself after two decades, Miller still feels that support through the College and her instructors.
“It has been apparent they are determined to see each student succeed,” Miller said. “They have shown flexibility and patience with me as I learn to navigate this new chapter in life.”
Another source of community Miller found is the CWI Honors Program. For Miller, the program has been both an academic challenge and a support network. While she initially planned to complete her degree entirely online, the Honors classes she has taken in person have become her favorite classes at CWI.
“Being in the Honors Program pushed me to prove to myself that I could do this,” Miller shared. “The classes are engaging, and it has been really rewarding to learn alongside other motivated students, including people my own age who are also returning to school.”
That encouragement has been crucial as she learns to balance school with her professional and personal life. As a mother, wife, and full-time school employee, her schedule was already demanding. Adding coursework while continuing to volunteer and pursue her art endeavors proved challenging but has become manageable thanks to the support of her family and CWI community.
“Learning how to manage my time effectively, limit distractions, and stay organized has been key to a successful few semesters,” Miller said.
She is already seeing some of the results from her hard work. In her first year at CWI, she made the Presidential List both semesters and maintained a 4.0 GPA. She also credits the Honors Program scholarship with helping make it possible to continue her education while working in an elementary school setting.
Reflecting on her journey over this last year, Miller encourages other students to stay connected to the passion that brought them to the classroom.
“There will be days, weeks even, when you will feel overwhelmed with the work in front of you. Obstacles will undoubtedly arise. Find ways to connect to that initial enthusiasm and drive that led you to pursue this path in the first place,” she said. “For me, small, daily interactions with children remind me of why I started. Always remember your ‘Why.’”
