Pursuing Her Passion

It’s always been easy for Adison Miser ’26 to connect with kids. 

She has two younger sisters, and at larger family gatherings, she has come to expect her younger cousins flocking toward her for attention. As Miser began to consider possibilities for her career, she felt like she could thrive as a teacher, mentoring kids like she had been doing since she was young. 

Still, Miser had been uncertain about whether teaching would give her the stability she and her parents wanted for her in a career. All this changed when Trinity University’s hands-on learning opportunities opened her eyes to all that education has to offer. 

Specifically, it was a course called “Seminar in Urban Education Policy and Practice” that made her realize teaching was the right path for her. By examining issues in urban education throughout America, the course exposed Miser to a broader understanding of the school system and its role within society. 

Miser realized teaching is more than just assigning worksheets or grading papers; it’s a chance to improve educational inequities faced by students. 

“Not all districts require their curriculum to be catered to students who speak English as a second language or catered to students with disabilities,” Miser says. “So part of that is going to have to come from me.” 

Encouraged by the positive impact she could make, Miser officially declared her minor in education, pairing it with a major in English. She hopes to teach reading to students in kindergarten through second grade.   

Although Miser chose education later than other students, her adviser, Education Professor Rocio Delgado, Ph.D., helped to ensure she met all of the requirements to graduate on time. 

Miser has appreciated Delgado’s supportive and welcoming nature. “She is just very warm,” she says. “Every time I see her, she gives me a big hug. She's really easy to be around.” 

Delgado is also the sponsor for a club called Trinity Education Active Community Helpers (T.E.A.C.H.), which offers education-related service and learning. Miser joined the club her junior year as the event coordinator and now serves as president. 

As president, Miser plans the meetings, organizes the events for each semester, contacts places for volunteer opportunities, takes care of supplies, and markets the events. She has gained confidence and a new sense of readiness for her future career through this leadership position, knowing she has learned how to work with and manage a group effectively.

Through the club, Miser has participated in hands-on experiences that have helped her make strides toward her professional career. One of her most memorable moments with the club was volunteering at Hawthorne Elementary’s Trunk or Treat last semester. “Seeing the teachers dressed up, it just gave me a glimpse of whenever I get to do this stuff with my own classroom,” Miser says. 

After the Trunk or Treat event, she has continued to volunteer at the school for lunch duty every Wednesday, where she supervises the kids in the cafeteria. She is grateful for how the club has enabled her to engage with schools throughout San Antonio, giving her a look into what her future as a teacher holds. 

Miser plans to take everything she has learned at Trinity with her after graduation, as she pursues her Master of Education at the University of Houston. 

Though she has her sights set on teaching, she also plans to keep an open mind toward other options within the field of education. Miser likes the idea of being a superintendent of a school district or becoming a college professor. 

“I don’t think I’m that limited,” Miser says. “I'm just going to follow what makes me happy, and if I'm passionate about what I'm doing, I'm gonna keep moving up.”