Read about Rebecca Morgan, a graduate of College of The Albemarle’s (COA) Associate in Science program, and her journey from college to her dream career.

When Rebecca Morgan was a student at Northeastern High School in Elizabeth City, she never imagined she would one day become an instructor there and work alongside some of the teachers that taught her.

The idea never occurred to her in high school, but it did soon after she enrolled at COA. She became interested in a career in either the math or science program and, in 1973, left COA with her Associate in Science. She then transferred to Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk where she decided to pursue a mathematics curriculum instead. In 1975, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education. Shortly after enrolling at ODU, she discovered she enjoyed math and decided to pursue that as her career. She eventually earned her master’s degree in mathematics education from East Carolina University as well.

After leaving ODU, Morgan received a job at her high school alma mater as a math and science program teacher in grades 9 through 12. A high school math teaching position opened up after her first year and, for the next 23 years, Morgan remained in that post before eventually transferring to Pasquotank High School the year it opened.

As she began her teaching career, former high school teachers helped her acclimate to her new professional life, sharing tips on time management and how to maintain order in the classroom.

“It was an enjoyable experience,” Morgan said. “It was enjoyable to see them as a person, not just a teacher.”

Morgan considers herself lucky, having spent 31 years doing what she loved. In 2009, she retired; however, about six months after her retirement she took a job at COA as a math instructor.

“I teach a developmental math class and a pre-calculus and algebra class,” Morgan said. “I like it a lot. The students are focused. Their goal is to get the material.”

It’s a job that has brought her back to the place where she started her educational journey. She credits her time as a student at COA with helping her discover what she wanted to do with her life.

“I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t start out at COA,” Morgan said. “I think a two-year college is a great way to get started. At COA, I knew something in math or science was the way to go.”