The childhood education major reflects on her academic journey on the eve of her transition into one of the world’s noblest professions. As they prepare for the next stages of their lives, members of the Brooklyn College Class of 2019 share their thoughts on some of the most pertinent issues facing the world today. For more on this year’s commencement, visit our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Use the #BCGrad2019 hashtag to join the conversation. Heather McCall is a member of Class of 2019, graduating with a bachelor of arts in childhood education. She is the mother of two daughters, ages 12 and five. After losing her job as a bank manager, she refused to succumb to that bit of adversity and turned a negative into a positive. Relying on her strong spiritual core, she saw her newfound unemployment as the perfect opportunity to focus her vision and follow her purpose. She enrolled at Brooklyn College to become a teacher so that she could nurture and educate the next generation of scholars. While at the college, McCall served on School of Education Dean April Bedford’s Council Committee on Education, where she weighed in on the ways that the school can remain faithful to its mission to prepare teachers, administrators, counselors, and school psychologists to serve, lead, and thrive in the schools and agencies of New York City and beyond. In light of that obligation, McCall had this to say about her role as a future educator: “I have a responsibility to advance the society toward a more ethical, respectful, and just existence. I plan to fulfill this obligation by keeping abreast of the issues and concerns that affect all children. I’m going to be an advocate for students—especially those students whose voices aren’t heard for various reasons. I’m going to always keep my spirituality, principles, and morals in the forefront. I’m going to stay true to myself, remain authentic in my practice, lead by example, and never forget my purpose.” McCall sees equity for all as possible but understands that achieving this is not a quick process. “Work toward equity must happen daily,” she says. “We can strive to reach it with a reset of the mind. We are living in a society that has silently programmed our thoughts and at times hampers our visions of our highest selves. We can combat that through education. Liberation can be achieved through reading, research, and through sharing your testimony.” An essential part of her life for McCall is giving back to her community: “One of the ways I have contributed is by participating on the Educational Council Committee, where I share my experiences, skills, and concerns with the hope that others can relate and together, we can build coalitions. Ultimately, I have made it thus far, reflecting and thinking with a positive mindset realizing with God’s love and support that my setbacks in life were really ‘set ups’ of the many blessings that await me,” she adds. “I live by the motto ‘live, love, and laugh.’ Those three principles energize my work and drive me on my mission to leave the world in a better condition than I found it.”
