For Victoria McDaniel, Faulkner was the place that inspired her and prepared her to be a teacher, a profession she never expected to pursue, but one she adores.
After graduating from Faulkner with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts, McDaniel was hired as the 6-8th grade English Language Arts teacher at Mobile Christian School, where she also coaches the color guard and oversees the drama club and National Junior Honor Society.
“I love working at a school where I get to teach a subject I love and show how it points us back to the Creator,” McDaniel said. “Sharing my faith openly in the classroom is a large part of my teaching philosophy and spreads into the other areas of my job.”
McDaniel was invited back to Faulkner’s campus to be honored as the Accomplished Alumna for the English, Humanities, Music and Great Books Department during the 2024 Marketplace Faith Friday Forums.
While studying at Faulkner, McDaniel enjoyed being a member of the Great Books Program, served on the Honors Council, led the Marching Eagles Color Guard as its captain and also served as Phi Lambda social club’s Devotional Chair, a Jamboree Coordinator, and as an admissions FORCE member. She was honored to receive the Humanities department award in 2020.
“My experience at Faulkner was nothing short of a blessing,” McDaniel said. “While I never expected to be a teacher, I look back and see all the ways Faulkner prepared me to be one. From the beginning, I was immersed in an atmosphere that taught me about educating the whole person, which helps me daily in my career. I was able to sit at the feet of some of the most influential professors, spiritual leaders, and loving adults who helped guide me in a time where confusion and uncertainty can turn anyone away from the Lord… If I ever needed help, they were always there to push me and encourage me to be my very best self. They gave me the room to grow, while also holding me to a standard they knew I could reach. Every day, I use the knowledge, grace and techniques I observed my professors use and apply it to my own classroom.”
“I remind myself of this when I help my students evaluate their own priorities. Teaching middle school is a period of transition that can help students form good habits for the future. I remind them that ALL parts of their lives are important and that, just like my professors taught me, we just have to learn how to prioritize the first things first,” she added.
For McDaniel, the time spent participating in extracurricular activities at Faulkner such as social clubs, Jamboree, Marching Band and the Dalraida College ministry helped shape her into a well-rounded student and a well-adjusted adult.
“I am thankful for all the people at Faulkner who helped shape me into who I am!” she said. “Additionally, I want to add the value that Christian education has given my life. The opportunity to serve God openly in an environment that is designed to encourage you spiritually has changed my life! I am so thankful for the opportunities Faulkner led me to in my career.”
In her free time, Victoria enjoys walking her dog, writing for her Instagram blog @_joyjournal_, and beating her boyfriend in Scrabble.
