This is my first Another View, 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.

But you might have recognized my name for a lot longer than that.

Since October 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 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 in English, so I studied MLA 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 at that point or quit college. What else can one do with an English degree besides teach, right? A lot, in fact.

In addition to 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.

That 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