Kyle Ferrero
Current Employer/Organisation Name
Houston Community College
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
I entered in with an organization called Teach for American and worked two years in Houston at a title 1 school mostly attended by students who are the children of 1st generation immigrants from Latin America. There I taught World Geography, World History, US History, and AP US History. After there for two years, I got the opportunity to work as an Early College Professor and now teach college history courses at a different Title 1 Secondary School still in Houston. I am dual employed with Houston Community College where I work as an adjunct.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
I chose this career because I love the subject I studied and eventually hope to get my PhD in History. I really want to study either East or South East Asian with an emphasis on cultural and religious exchange. This job is very close to what I hope to do long term, that being becoming a Uni professor. I love the flexibility my job allows me in terms of running my course. As a normal secondary school teacher I was very constrained in the content I taught and how I taught. Now, thanks to my degree and time at Exeter, I get to teach students the way that works best for them and in a way I love.
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
Sadly it was cut short due to COVID, but I really started making some quality friends with in my degree program in term 2. I was pretty depressed and homesick in term 1 but meeting people pursuing the same passion as me and just getting to walk over to local pubs in Exeter was so enjoyable to me. I love good conversation with good people and Exeter gave me that.
What did you enjoy most about studying here?
I know I just said it in the last one, but the friends I made in my degree program. I am still really sad our time was cut short due to the pandemic. I did also enjoy the level of flexibility in terms of the courses I took and how I approached them. I think it caused me to struggle as the academic standards and approach are different from what I am used to in the US; however, even if it did hurt my marks a bit, I appreciated being able to pursue my own interests.
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
One of my favorite Undergrad professors got his PhD from Exeter and that encouraged me to look into and apply to the school. I saw how excellent of a Uni it was and then realized this would be an amazing next step on eventually going for my PhD. It was also the most financially wise choice as while US schools would have been cheaper per term, they would have been longer overall ultimately costing me more money. It was actually cheaper to study abroad in the UK.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
Research and note taking bar none. Having to write a 60+ page paper for my graduate thesis was a lot of reading and research. It forced me to hone my communication skills and helps me as someone who is teaching history today.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
It may not be the easiest to get the highest paying job, but you can get solid pay and if you love it, it’s worth it especially the masters. I has helped me get this position I truly love and I get to help instruct the next generation coming up. If you wish to do an MA in History, University of Exeter is an exceptional school for that.
What are your plans for the future?
Probably work at my current job for another few years. Eventually, I would like to get into a PhD program and start working on that. I have an idea of what I want to study; however, it requires some language proficiencies I plan on working on in the intervening time.
