Volunteer of the Month: Emily Bocan '12

Emily Bocan ‘12 felt ready to be a teacher when she graduated from Bloomsburg University.  She had a strong foundation in her content area and pedagogical skillset.

What she was not prepared for, however, were interviews.

“I was not at all prepared for the interview,” said Bocan, who now teaches for the Central Dauphin School District. “I wish I had opportunities to practice before applying to school districts.  It worked out but I wish I had more confidence going into that process.”
So when Bocan reconnected with Bloomsburg at an alumni social in Harrisburg, signed up to volunteer as part of the Professional U career community.

Then, about a year later, she received an email asking if she would be willing to serve on an alumni panel and as a mock interviewer during the Collaborating to Assist Teacher Candidate Hiring (CATCH).  Not long after that, she served as a mentor for the William and Elizabeth Bent Leadership Boot Camp.  In both cases, Bocan appreciated not only her opportunity to help students with interview prep, but the students’ preparedness and enthusiasm for the opportunity.

“It was an awesome experience,” said Bocan. “There wasn’t anything like this offered to me as a student so I really enjoyed that experience.  The candidates were knowledgeable and made me proud to be an alum.“

Bocan said she particularly loved the mentorship part of the Bent Boot Camp, which was held throughout the year in person and virtually. She enjoyed getting to know her student mentee and the feeling of fulfillment she gained by helping her student learn and refine her leadership and professional skillsets.

“I loved it. It felt really fulfilling to guide a fellow educator.  She shared a lot with me about her leadership roles in clubs and it was good to talk to her about how to succeed in our industry and through leadership.”

Bocan also said that despite the level of involvement for both roles, she did not feel the time constraint was burdensome. She plans to continue to be part of the Professional U career community and has been actively seeking out additional opportunities to volunteer.

“When you hear of volunteering you think its something you have to spend a lot of time,” explained Bocan. “[Doing] both did not take a lot of time out of my personal life.  Even if you aren’t close to campus you can still participate.”

Interested in volunteering to help fellow Huskies? Just fill out this survey!