A few weeks ago, we checked in with the three N.C. State University students participating in our Ag Voices series as they finished up the first semester of their sophomore year. This week, we’ll post updates from Matt Currin, Alycia McLamb and Daniel Alvey as they complete their final exams.
It’s possible this semester has been one of the busiest of Alycia McLamb’s college life. In addition to school, Alycia served as a state FFA officer, promoted the N.C. watermelon industry as the Watermelon Queen, interned with the FFA alumni association and was active in her sorority. “I love it,” she said. “That’s what keeps me going every day and what keeps me wide awake even when I’ve only had four hours of sleep.”
When we last checked in with Alycia, she had just seen President Barack Obama speak at N.C. State. Since then, she has traveled to Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress, attended one of the largest international produce trade shows in Atlanta and served as an ambassador for the National Association of Agricultural Educators at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis.
At State, she is already preparing for her student teaching experience during her senior year. Through her introduction to agricultural education course, she has had the opportunity to work with a local high school a few hours each week this semester. She says one of the challenges of the experience is knowing her role as a teacher. “I’m not that much older than a lot of those students,” she said. “I’m having to learn the transition from being a student to actually being a teacher.”
In the video below, Alycia talks more about her experiences this semester and how she balances school, work and other responsibilities.
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httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CnLICfYSQk