Alex Witkowski

1. Tell us what you do in this position:

I’m creating content for the social media accounts and I’m also involved with building a community around a new initiative of ours in which we want to help connect people who want to do good in the world with the people who need the help.

2. What are some past jobs/positions you have held?

My past jobs were four years as a lab technician with Instructional Technology Services at TCNJ. I would assist professors with the use of the content management system and work with faculty and students on printing, scanning, audio editing, video editing, and basic computer programs. After that I spent six years teaching English and Creative Writing at South Brunswick High School, where I also got involved as Class Advisor, National Honor Society Advisor, Creative Writing Club Advisor, and a member of the school’s Curriculum Development Team and Professional Development Committee.

3. How did TCNJ and the major prepare you for what you are doing today?

The TCNJ English Education department was astounding and the reputation alone helped get me interviews with virtually every school I applied to. I learned so much about pedagogy and curriculum development that my knowledge has helped me branch out of the field. As for my current career, the psychology class I took for my education major gave me a lot of valuable perspective in determining how to effectively communicate with people; and Literary Criticism with Dr. Robertson helped me gain valuable perspective on concise writing.

4. What is your best memory of the program?
My best memory is my time with Sigma Tau Delta, which totally transformed me as an individual. I went on two incredible trips for the annual conference and met amazing people I had classes with but never got to interact with. I feel as if my time with Sigma Tau Delta helped me evolve as a person and a leader.

5. What did you learn here that proved to be valuable in your current career?

Every writing technique I learned in my literature classes proved to be valuable. I feel confident in my ability to communicate with clarity and personality. My English Education classes helped me determine how to effectively structure the delivery of information, and the classroom strategies I learned have been beneficial to presentations I have to give, training materials I’ve had to create, and organizational planning I’ve participated in. I think, though, that the less concrete lesson has been my most important takeaway. The joke at work is that I’m constantly thinking and analyzing, but the promotion of creative problem solving and the modeling of analytic thinking from my English professors helps me deeply evaluate things far beyond texts.

6. Do you have advice to current students?
My advice for current TCNJ students trying to break into business is say yes to everything and everyone. I was certain I was going to teach for the rest of my life, so I didn’t value potential networking opportunities with people in other fields. I didn’t take advantage of learning opportunities for skills I didn’t have. I didn’t keep my options open. It wasn’t until I needed a change that I accepted invitations to events, started connecting with people outside of my field, and determined new things I should learn. Keep strong relationships with everyone you meet and don’t wait until you need it to forge new relationships and look into new possibilities.