From not getting along with the teacher you work with, to working with students who do not respect you, student teaching can be a challenging job to commit to. Overall, it is not always the ideal job to choose nowadays, with the generation growing, who seem more insolent. Though this does not stop Kayli Renaud from pursuing her career in education.  

       Renaud, age 21, has been student teaching since January of 2026, and currently attends Albion College. Renaud decided to become a teacher because she loves English Literature and wants to share it with other students.
   “I decided to become a teacher to inspire young people to think critically and develop their sense of self,” said Renaud.

Always multitasking, Renaud speaks about her students feeling surprised by her attention to detail. There can be many things in someone’s life that most people do not know, that makes someone an interesting and pleasant person to be around. These things can be family, jobs, or activity-related.

   Renaud works alongside English teacher Katie Christner, and the two have a great connection. This is important for student teaching, especially if it is your first year, for an enjoyable experience before you finally go into teaching.

   “Additionally, my biggest challenge was figuring out how college worked entirely. I had the support of my parents; however, I am a first-generation college student, therefore, I did not have a lot of knowledge of how the college process worked,” said Renaud. “I had to do lots of research with my family and learn about loans, applications, housing, and academics at the college level.”

   Even though Renaud has faced multiple challenges, from navigating college to a classroom, she stays dedicated to make a meaningful experience for herself and the people she is surrounded by.