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After careers in journalism, politics, and web development, Ameya Charnalia began a new chapter through STU's Bachelor of Education program.

 

"STU supported my transition to teaching beautifully by valuing the unique background I brought to the table," said Charnalia, who is from New Delhi, India.  

 

The French Immersion teacher candidate in the secondary stream said the strong sense of community at STU made his experience especially meaningful.

 

"It teaches you that you are not operating in a vacuum; you are teaching your neighbours' kids, running into your students at the grocery store, and becoming a thread in the local fabric," he said.

 

"That community atmosphere breeds accountability and empathy because you are invested in the future of people around you."

 

Faculty Mentorship

 

Charnalia said the faculty members who taught and mentored him left a lasting impression.

 

"Dr. Porter has been a true inspiration because of her care-driven pedagogical approach, not to mention her incredible ability to navigate complex subjects like law, ethics, and reconciliation in education,” he said.

 

"Professor Léo-James Levesque was an absolute fountain of knowledge. He wrote the book on French education in New Brunswick, and his methods were invaluable to our cohort. They have left a lasting legacy on all of us."

 

“STU’s Stellar Reputation in the Community is Earned”

 

Charnalia said his practicum experiences helped prepare him for the realities of teaching and gave him opportunities to apply what he learned in the classroom.

 

"STU's stellar reputation in the community is earned," he said.

 

"Our practicums genuinely prepare us for the realities of real-life classrooms, ensuring we are ready to navigate the modern educational landscape from day one."

 

As graduation approaches, Charnalia said being selected by his classmates as Valedictorian was especially meaningful.

 

"Being elected valedictorian by my peers was a profound honour and a very special capstone to this experience," he said.

 

After graduation, Charnalia will be returning home to Ottawa.

 

“I cannot wait to get right into the classroom, start building my own community of learners, and put everything I learned at STU into practice,” he said.