This is my first Another View column and I couldn’t be happier about it.

I have been working as the editorial assistant for Catasauqua Press, Northampton Press and Whitehall-Coplay Press for a little over a month now. But you might have recognized my name for a lot longer than that.

Since October of 2013, I have been a freelance writer, photographer and columnist for The Press papers (happy two-year work anniversary to me!). When the editorial assistant position opened, I jumped at the opportunity.

My time here so far has been wonderful. I’ve enjoyed getting to know all the editors with the Lehigh Valley Press and learning the specifics of Associated Press-style writing for a newspaper.

I’m not starting with a beginner AP course thankfully, though. I graduated from East Stroudsburg University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science degree in professional and secondary education – English, so I studied much Modern Language Association and AP writing styles.

I loved the English part of my degree. I loved the writing, editing, literary criticism and theory, historical contexts, etc. But there was something about the teaching part I disliked.

Don’t get me wrong, student teaching wasn’t the death of me, but I did not enjoy it. Instead of being excited for student teaching, I was nervous - so nervous, in fact, I woke up each morning feeling sick to my stomach and saying to myself, “I don’t want to do this today.” And if I’m honest, I might have even had that feeling when I did classroom observations.

If I would have only listened to my gut early enough, I could have switched my English education degree to an English writing degree. I could have acquired the core knowledge of professional writing and editing, which I use today, instead of learning the latest teaching methods. However, I had gone this far; I had only a couple more months of student teaching. I wasn’t going to switch now or quit college. Besides, what else can you do with an English degree besides teach, right? A lot, in fact.

Besides teaching English, one can be an underwriter for an insurance company, an editor for a newspaper or magazine, a writer for an online website, a published author or a journalist for print, radio or TV. One could even work in advertising or publishing. There are many more options in addition to the examples I listed here.

Needless to say, I did not look for a teaching job after graduating. Instead, I emailed local newspapers inquiring if any writing positions were open. There started my career with The Press and I’m so happy. This is what I know I should be doing.

I am incredibly thankful and very excited to help bring local area news to you, the readers.

Now, when I wake up in the morning, I say, “I’m ready. Let’s bring on the day.”

Stacey Koch

editorial assistant

Catasauqua Press

Northampton Press

Whitehall-Coplay Press