Meet Sophia Morgan | College Advisor; Academic Advising Consultant; Career Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sophia Morgan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sophia, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My business, Explore Career Academy, provides career and college support to high school students. So, we help teenagers (young people) be clear and purposeful about choosing a career that aligns with their skills, passion, and competency and then allow them to find the right post-secondary institution to prepare them to enter this field. I am an educator, and my thought process for this Academy is how I could make a difference in the lives of my students and support them to become successful adults of tomorrow. I started with three questions: What do my students need? How can I fill this need? Do I have the skill set to fill this need? Then I thought about that age-old question everyone asks: what do you want to be when you grow up? It dawned on me that even as adults, so many people never find a career that aligns with their passion, so they will spend hours and years in a job or career that does not inspire them daily. Hence, providing career and college counseling is generally a gap in our education systems, so my Academy will help bridge that gap for individual students and schools.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Reflecting on my career, I realized there were many challenges, but I liked that I was always progressing, even on the most difficult days. I worked in Jamaica for around nine years before I entered the international teaching realm. My first stop was Denmark, South Carolina, where I taught mathematics to high school students. In America, I learned how to cater to the needs of all the students in my class; from my perspective, the experience helped me practice differentiation. My skill of running a student-centered classroom was honed during that part of my career. You learn the politics of catering to parents’ demands while maintaining quality education. I also learned to hear students, listen to and cater to their needs, and design learning experiences how they know best. One thing I learned while working in America is how to make each day a learning experience for my students. Allowing their voice to be heard in the classroom provides a safe space for students to thrive. This experience complemented the teaching practice that Jamaica’s teacher training provided. It was difficult five years of teaching in America; I had to overcome the feeling of my career being stagnant and the feeling of not achieving the goals I had set for myself, both personally and professionally. If you know me, I am constantly moving towards something, gaining, and achieving something; unfortunately, I felt stuck during this period.

I was a new mom (I went to America with my eight-month-old) in a foreign country with no family or friends and working in a space where I felt boxed like I could move, but only within this space. And so I had to learn to be still and to plan strategically. I was on the J1 visa program, so I knew after five years, I would leave, but the bigger question was where I would go. Of course, I learned I could always go back home; I am a math teacher, and finding a job would not be difficult. Then, around March 2019, a colleague (Mr. Joshua Ansah) asked me if I would go to China. I said sure, and he shared information about the recruiter with me. The recruiter and I talked about the school and living in China, but the ultimate selling point for me was when the recruiter explained that the school would separate our salary and deposit a fraction in a Chinese bank account and another fraction in an international account. I was like, what! You are telling me that after I get paid, I would have enough money to live and change to send home. I was in; I had no more questions and began preparing to go to China.
As I fantasized about my future fortune (smile), I made a financial plan over the next few months (another skill I picked up in America: money management). Along with clearing my debts, one investment I would make with my “fortune” is completing my doctoral studies, so I immediately enrolled in a program that would begin with my new job. While teaching in America, I also found my voice in education; by this, I mean what I want to contribute to my field, my business, Explore Career Academy, and my research in STEM education.

Moving to China surpassed all of my expectations, professionally and personally. I arrived in October 2019, and it is as if I was transported to math teacher paradise. Students loved math, students worked hard, and students followed the directions the first time given. Behavior management plan, no need for that; all my time and effort was spent on the tasks of instruction. The school had a culture of consistent education across classes, and a clear system was in place to support student achievement. And my salary was doing what I fantasized that it would do. Peace had entered my life. I loved it here!
The romance was short-lived, as before long, it was January 2020. And my son and I were in Wuhan, Hubei, China. But even as the coronavirus raged on the outside, and I was in survival mode, I was making great strides. I continued my doctoral program at the American College of Education and applied for my first leadership position as an academic advisor at my institution, Maple Leaf International School -Wuhan. My passion for education was reignited as our school reopened after months of lockdown. Slowly, I remembered why I had entered and stayed in education; I love supporting students’ and teachers’ success. And my doctoral studies  provided me with the tools I needed to be the agent of change that I desire to be in my community. After four years working on my campus in Wuhan, I transitioned into my current role as Principal at one of our foreign nationals schools in Yiwu. With over 200 students from 40+ nations worldwide and teachers from over 10 countries, my primary role is creating a school where diversity is celebrated, teachers are supported, and students enjoy a safe learning environment.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am a rest and relaxation type of person. So, for any week-long vacation, the first and most important is comfortable lodging; rooms must be relaxed, and there needs to be a pool or beach nearby because I enjoy being in the water and swimming, and I can only swim Jamaican-style (enough to save my life). I am a trip.com 10 ten must-visit person, so I start on trips and make my list from there. Of course, our tour must include visiting the museum, picnicking at a park, anything outdoorsy (hiking with lots of complaining, sightseeing), and the different restaurants with local cuisine ( I like trying the foods a region is famous for when visiting). Whatever cultural activities are happening, I would also participate in that, as I enjoy celebrating the different cultures and customs of any group. I love spending quality time, so on this trip, there would be lots of time to chill and spend with the people I am with. When “adulting,” I find that we forget to be present with the people in our presence.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My response to this question is going to be long. I have lived a blessed life in that all my decisions have just led me to phenomenal people. Do not get me wrong, I have had challenges (we can do that story another time because it is lengthy as well), but when I think of my journey in this life, these challenges are simply minute. So let me begin with my family, that is, everyone with the last name Buddington and who is related to a Buddington. My mom sold snacks at my primary school, Williamsfield All Age, and while she had made errors, like most moms do. She always sent me to school; even if I did not have extra money for lunch, she would give me something to eat and enough money to take me to school and back. Watching her make that sacrifice daily helped me to develop the skill of being purposeful, intentional, and consistent about all my decisions and choices. Then there is my aunt, Rowena (my ultimate best friend); she does not even recognize this, but her decision to support her family gave me the roadmap to where I am today. Her gift is literally lying down and allowing me to find my way to success; she is the ultimate exemplar. Like, my aunt supported my sister and me throughout teachers’ college while supporting herself through law school (at the same time, she graduated in 2004, and we graduated in 2005). So imagine the hours of work and financial sacrifice she had to make. So imagine instead of living her best life, she gave that to us so that we could have an option to use education as the vehicle to take us beyond the circumstances of our birth. And that is just a single example; even today, if I need anything, she is still my first call. But, in general, my family has always cheered, prayed, and supported me.

Then I must mention my teachers and my schools, Williamsfield All Age and Petersfield Compresive High School. The school has always been my safest place, and my teachers were terrific at spotting my potential and supporting me; I cannot relate to anyone who had a negative teacher experience. And mind you, “teachers ruff me up, nuff time,” and yes, “I did bawl and vex,” but I have always received this with the spirit of love.

And then just the people I know, I met amazing people everywhere I go. I know dope people who always cheer for you, support you, give good advice, watch you fail and still believe, and invest their ideas and good vybz into your dreams. If I tell my friends I am going to the moon tomorrow, they would be like how can I help? Just supportive, and “dem nuh fraid fi correct mi and let mi know when foolishness ah foolishness.” Last but by no means least, I want to shout out Jermaine. Jermaine is my problem-solver and always-present partner. He does not shout or needs to be in the spotlight; he is always there to care for me and ensure I am ready to pursue and achieve my goals.

Website: https://mainstack.me/explorecareeracademy

Instagram: explorecareeracademy

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sophia-morgan-1a784671

Facebook: Explore Career Academy

Image Credits
Photographer: Ricardo Samuels BluSky Concepts Other Images: Social Brand Consultant