Student Profile: Faith Lam

Name: Faith Lam

Current degree program: Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a minor in Birth-Kindergarten

Previous degrees: Associates with High Honors in Early Childhood Education, Lenoir Community College, 2020

Hometown: Charleston, SC

Hobbies/interests: traveling the world with my husband and our 3 children

What drew you to pursue your current degree?

When I was in high school, I had the opportunity to intern at a child care facility where I would later work during my college years. Although I did not originally go to school for education, I found the time I spent in pre-K classrooms to be incredibly rewarding.  I found a great sense of fulfillment when I helped a student to understand a concept that they were struggling with. I recognized that I was supporting future leaders to love learning — and I believe that to be incredibly profound work.

Why did you choose ECU?

That acknowledgment led me to pursue a career in education here at ECU. Given that ECU was the original teaching college that produced some of the greatest educators of our time (such as Ron Clark), I was incredibly excited to join ECU’s touted education program.

Dr. Anderson mentioned that you and your husband have created your own business, consisting of an after-school program. Can you talk more about that?

While pursuing my degree at ECU, I also founded a learning center with my husband. Our goal was to provide effective out-of-school educational support services including tutoring and after school programs. Our vision was to provide an enriching educational experience that included foreign language instruction, music lessons, chess lessons, and other engaging educational experiences at an affordable rate. We believe that students need access to a wide range of extracurricular activities to broaden their understandings, to tap into their talents, and also to empower them to seek out opportunities for themselves.

Do you have any advice for students looking to pursue an education degree?

To those of you who are considering a career in education, know that the work you are doing is incredibly meaningful. By no means is a career in education easy, but each day educators have the opportunity to awaken the potential of a child. That potential can transform and change trajectories families, communities, and ultimately the world.