Many people struggle to choose the perfect career path, and it’s natural for people’s interests to evolve over time. While some may feel pressured by their peers —or even themselves— it’s important to take the time to learn yourself, grow, and discover the right path for you. Whether it means finding a career later or maybe even making a change along the way, everyone’s journey is unique. Lamar’s beloved 9th grade biology teacher, Annette Tsong, knows this firsthand.
Tsong first gained her love for biology in 9th grade with a simple lab experiment growing bacteria. “I absolutely loved it! It was fascinating to see how science is present in our everyday lives, from our bodies to the nature around us,” recalls Tsong. From there on her passion for science continued to bloom and led her to majoring in biology at Rice University, with hopes to become a researcher.
However, her journey didn’t go exactly as planned. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while applying to graduate schools with hopes of becoming a researcher, Tsong had a realization. “I love biology and researching would be great, but I wanted to interact with people more and help them see how science applies to their daily lives,” reflects Tsong. This realization combined with the discouragement she felt due to the huge gender inequality in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), caused her to shift her focus towards a new career: teaching. “I knew becoming a teacher was right for me because I loved tutoring and TAing for certain classes. A special feeling would warm my heart everytime someone I helped had an ‘aha’ moment,” says Tsong.
Of course, pursuing teaching came with backlash. Many of Tsong’s family and friends showed some initial hesitation. Teachers don’t usually get paid much, they’re not always well-respected, and they deal with constant stress. But even if they had never come around, Tsong knew she would have pursued teaching anyway—she was confident in what she wanted. That said, having their support made a difference. While she didn’t need their approval, knowing they stood by her choice gave her an extra sense of reassurance and encouragement. In the end, with their support, she went on to earn her teaching degree. By 2021, Tsong completed her schooling and was eager to begin her teaching career at Lamar High School. The start wasn’t easy—COVID made sure of that.
After the pandemic, many students weren’t at the academic level they should have been, which made teaching even more challenging because she had to catch them up on what they had missed. Staying organized with multiple classes was also a struggle. However, her colleagues made a huge difference.
“They were a great helping hand in creating lesson plans and organizing my classroom because Lamar is such a collaborative community,” reflects Tsong. After overcoming those initial challenges, she has loved being a part of Lamar. “Lamar was the best decision ever! It’s a place where I feel like I belong. There’s so much diversity and no one is judging me or making me feel inferior because I’m a woman, which might have been different had I pursued research,” she says.
Tsong’s journey serves as a reminder that career paths aren’t always simple, and sometimes the unexpected route leads to the most fulfilling destination. Though she once envisioned herself as a researcher, her passion for teaching ultimately won out—and Lamar couldn’t be more grateful. She’s the perfect mentor to shape the next generation of scientists.
