Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcia Thomas.
Marcia, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all began when I was in 6th grade. My mother put me in an engineering camp at the University of Texas at Arlington. When I arrived, I didn’t know what to expect and I also didn’t know what being an engineer meant. By the end of the week, I was sold. I decided that my career goal was to be a mechanical engineer specializing in automobiles. I specifically wanted to work to General Motors and design my own car. At 11, it sounded simple and I trusted that every class I took as well as every teacher that I came in contact with would prepare me to achieve my goal.
In 7th and 8th grade, I attended an environmental magnet school that allowed me to learn about how cars contribute to air pollution. Of course, I was taking notes for when I designed my own car. In high school, I had the opportunity to work in an automotive shop to learn about the different components of a car and how they worked. I even took an engine apart all the way to the engine block and put it back together. My curiosity was at an all-time high and I made sure to pay attention to everything.
After I graduated high school, I continued my education at Baylor University. I declared my major as Mechanical Engineering. On the first day of class, I was excited because I worked so hard to be this close to my dreams. This excitement turned into complete fear after the first three weeks of Engineering 1301. I began to struggle and fall behind in the course. There were so many concepts that other freshmen knew that I never heard of before. When I would ask my classmates where they got their information, they would laugh and say: “We learned this in high school. Didn’t you?” These conversations became more and more frequent. I began to question everything. Am I prepared for this? Is this really what I am supposed to be doing with my life? I was so disappointed.
I set up a meeting with my professor and told him about my concerns. He said ” I noticed that you have been struggling. You work hard. You ask questions. You study. You show your work. There are just some engineering fundamentals that you missed in high school. It will take you seven-eight years here to complete an engineering degree because you will need to take basics again with the rigor that we require here. It isn’t anything that you have done. The classes that you took in high school just didn’t prepare you for this moment. I see more in you, Marcia. I think you should go home and pray. Let me know how I can support you and I’ll be there.”
I went home and cried. I worked so hard to come to this moment. I gave myself one day to cry and sulk but after that day, I promised myself that I would make moves. After all, BAYLOR IS NOT CHEAP! Within two hours of crying and sulking, I realized that there was nothing that I could’ve done to avoid this but there was something my a few of my teachers could’ve done. That “something” was to teach with rigor and love. I had many amazing teachers in high school. Mrs. Captain and Mrs. Rob were the teachers I began to reflect on. They pushed me because they loved me. I learned the most from them. In their classroom, I knew that I could learn anything and that I would be ready for everything. At that moment, I knew that my calling was not to be an engineer. This engineer experience was for me to feel first hand what I wanted kids to avoid. I wanted all children to graduate and do whatever they set their mind to without being told that they aren’t prepared. If they change their major or career path, I want it to be THIER choice. My calling was to teach, mentor and love children. The next day, I changed my major to Middle School Math Education.
I graduated from Baylor in 2015 and moved back to Dallas to teach 6th-grade math for Dallas Independent School District. I worked in an inner city school that was in my old neighborhood. This school was also where my family went to middle school I was honored to teach there because I saw myself in every student I taught. I was home. I vowed to make sure that they received quality math education no matter the circumstance. I bought my students food and supplies with no hesitation because I didn’t want them to have an excuse as to why they couldn’t be great.
While teaching, I went back to school to earn my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Arlington. When I graduated, I began my business, Inspiring Minds with Marcia. The goal of my business is to create a math curriculum for ALL students as well as tutor students so that they are successful in their math classes. Some math word problems refer to situations that many of my students have never experienced. If students have not experienced what the word problem is referring to, it becomes hard to understand what the question is asking. The questioning that appears on the standardized tests does not have the low socio-economic child in mind. These children are not to be forgotten. I have been called to meet children where they are and build them up to be great.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’ve had many challenges along the way. Many of my challenges stem from being the youngest person in the room. I have been in positions that required me to make decisions on the classroom level, grade level and campus level of schools. There are times when it becomes hard for others in the room to take direction or hear ideas from a person who hasn’t worked as long as they have but this challenge comes with being a young trailblazer. Trailblazers think of things that haven’t been thought of and push for positive change around them. My advice to young women is to keep pushing. There will always be opposition but it is up to YOU to remain focused and fight for your purpose. When your purpose in life is in the forefront, you won’t fail.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Inspiring Minds with Marcia is a growing business that offers in-person/virtual math tutoring to students (Kindergarten – 8th grade) as well as curriculum writing services. In my years of teaching, I noticed that there are many fundamental holes in math teaching that hinders students as they progress throughout academia. I also noticed that students in the southern sector of Dallas County have bigger fundamental holes than students who live in the northern sector. My goal with Inspiring Minds with Marcia is to bring quality and affordable math instruction to families in the southern sector. These students are not to be forgotten and they deserve quality education at every stage of academia. I enjoy meeting students where they are and making math relatable to them. Many students in the southern sector suffer in math and reading because they have not been exposed to the situations presented in the stories or word problems given. For example, if a student has never gone fishing, how can they answer a geometrical triangle question involving a boat, fishing rods, and fishing line? I tutor and make curriculum using experiences that they have had. Many times, it’s not that the student that isn’t ready for the test rather it is the test not being made with the student in mind. In the future, I would like for my business to grow into a consulting company that educates teachers how to truly meet students where they are and make math fun.
What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
Young woman, find your calling. Ask yourself, what am I being purposed to do with my life? Following your purpose doesn’t feel like a dreadful crawl into work. It feels like a new adventure to grow from.
Young woman, keep pushing. Opposition is everywhere. You already have two strikes against you. You are young and you are a woman. Keep your head high and go into the world on fire with your purpose.
Young woman, you ARE NOT superwoman. You cannot do it all at one time. Guess what? That okay. Take time to refresh, reflect and release. Yes, you can save the world but you can’t save the world if you are on empty.
Lastly, young woman, do not forget where you came from. Everyone has a past and everyone has a story. Make sure that you don’t lose who you really are in your career. It is so easy to do that when you are just starting. Remember, stay true to you and your values. You will succeed. you will be great.
Contact Info:
- Website: inspiringmindswithmarcia.com
- Email: info@inspiringmindswithmarcia.com
- Instagram: inspiringmindswithmarcia
- Facebook: facebook.com/inspiringmindswithmarcia
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