For Aayushi Doshi, education has never been just a career path. It is a lifelong passion that took root early and grew stronger with every new experience. From guiding preschoolers to being ready to deliver her speech at the 2025 College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) Graduation Ceremony, she has always found herself drawn to education in ways she never expected. Her journey has been shaped by unexpected opportunities, bold decisions and a deep curiosity about the world.  

The Spark That Ignited a Lifelong Passion 

Long before she committed to Temple, Doshi had already fallen in love with teaching. Attending a vocational high school gave her early hands-on experience working directly with preschoolers. "I was able to actually teach during high school, which was really cool," she said. "But my love for education started even earlier, around seventh grade. I had this amazing English teacher, Mrs. Laurito, and ever since then, I just knew that I wanted to teach." 

At first, she imagined herself as an English teacher, too, but as she progressed through high school, her interests evolved. "I loved working with my peers and the history department," she explained. "I realized how much I enjoyed history and the idea of helping students connect with it in meaningful ways." 

Her decision to double major in secondary education - social studies and minor in political science was also very personal. Coming from an immigrant family, she saw history as a way to connect past and present and bring different narratives into the classroom. 

"I love that history is not just about memorizing dates. It is about understanding different perspectives," she said. "For me, teaching history is a way to help students see the bigger picture and understand how the past influences their own lives." 

Doshi further added she was drawn to how these academic disciplines intersect. "Nothing exists in a box. Everyone wants things to be categorized, but education is connected to history, politics and economics. None of them can exist without the other." 

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day - But It Helped Build a Future Educator 

When Doshi started thinking about college, she did not expect it to start over 4,000 miles away from home. As a native of North Jersey, she always assumed she would attend school somewhere in the U.S. But when she learned about Temple University's Rome Entry Year Program, everything changed. 

The year in Rome became an academic experience like no other. "Rome is such a historical place, so getting to take history courses there was incredible," Doshi shared. "One of my favorite classes was about the Mafia. We traveled to Naples and explored different towns that had been influenced by organized crime. It was such an immersive experience." 

Being able to physically walk through history, instead of just reading about it in a textbook, changed the way that she viewed education. "In Rome, learning did not just happen in the classroom. It happened everywhere," she said. 

"Going to Rome was a big step outside of my comfort zone, but it was one of the best things I have ever done," she said. "It made me even more open-minded, and after a year abroad, moving to Philadelphia did not seem intimidating at all. I had already experienced a completely new culture and a new way of life. So, when I returned, I felt like, 'Okay, I can handle anything now.'" That mindset would serve her well, not just in her transition to Temple's Main Campus in Philadelphia, but in her future as an educator. 

From Rome to Philly: Adapting, Connecting and Learning 

"Coming to Philadelphia was definitely an adjustment," she admitted. "But the confidence that I gained in Rome helped me navigate that transition. I knew how to adapt, how to put myself out there and make connections." 

And just like in Rome, she quickly found ways to immerse herself in her new environment. In the CEHD, Doshi found a strong support system. One of her most impactful courses was Effective Teaching: Theory and Practice, where she was able to practice real-world teaching techniques. 

"My professor, Tim Fukawa-Connelly, made the class so engaging," she said. "One time, I had to teach everyone how to make instant coffee, but in a way that practiced different teaching methods. Everyone got free coffee that day—it was a great learning experience!" 

Teaching Beyond the Textbook: Lessons from Preschool to Policy 

Beyond the classroom, Doshi's field placements allowed her to teach students of all ages, from preschool to high school. This range of experience taught her an unexpected lesson: classroom management skills do not change as much as people think. "Obviously, you modify your approach depending on the students' age and maturity level," she explained. "But the core idea is the same: you have to create a space where students feel comfortable, respected and engaged." 

The CEHD program also exposed Doshi to working in a variety of diverse Philadelphia classrooms, where she found moments that reaffirmed her passion for teaching. Currently completing her student teaching at Masterman High School, Doshi recalls a transformative moment, "[This student] is an English language learner, so she was really shy about speaking in front of her peers," Doshi said. "But one day, without being prompted, she joined the discussion. It was the first time she openly engaged in class, and it was such a powerful moment. Her work was always great, but seeing her confidence grow was amazing." 

Doshi's time in the classroom sparked deeper questions about the broader systems influencing student success. She began to think more critically about how policies, curriculum mandates and government decisions shape the practice of teaching. 

These reflections allowed her to draw meaningful connections between her political science coursework and her classroom experiences. Her studies provided new perspectives for interpreting classroom dynamics and approaching content delivery with greater intention. One of her courses involved teaching a 12th grade social science class, where she incorporated insights from her political science background. 

"Civic education is based on political science," she explained. "I have taken a diverse set of political science classes, and some of them balance with history. Policies, research techniques: all of that comes into play when I am teaching." Her interdisciplinary approach allowed students to understand historical and political systems in more tangible ways, and it deepened her own understanding of how education is inherently connected to governance and policy. 

Her evolving interest in education beyond the classroom found another outlet through a connection at CEHD, where a professor linked her with an opportunity to develop an adult ESL (English as a Second Language) curriculum for Puentes De Salud, a non-profit organization in Philadelphia that provides low-cost, high-quality health care, innovative educational programs and community building initiatives to the Latinx immigrant population. In addition to developing a curriculum, Doshi helped with their community outreach. "That was really fulfilling," she recalled. "It gave me a chance to create something that could help people in a very real way." 

Through her varied student teaching experiences and coursework, Doshi was exposed to the systemic challenges that affect education: things like funding disparities, curriculum development and policy decisions. "When I first started studying education, I thought about it only from the perspective of a teacher. But then, I started thinking about the policies that shape what happens in the classroom," she explained. "Being in the CEHD helped me connect those dots." 

Now, Doshi plans to delve even deeper into this field. "After I graduate, I am going to graduate school for education policy," she said. "That decision was a big shift for me, because I never thought I would step outside of the classroom. But my time at Temple helped me see the bigger picture." 

Advice for Aspiring Educators 

Doshi encourages future CEHD students to "put themselves out there and explore." Building relationships is crucial—the friendships you make can significantly impact your experience. Another tip: remain open-minded. "Your experiences, your classes—everything clicks together in one way, shape or form," she said. The connection between different subjects may not always be obvious, but Doshi notes, student teaching has made her realize the deep links between history, political science and education. 

She also challenges the idea that an education degree locks one into classroom teaching forever. She asserted, "There are so many things you can do with education, which I think people do not realize." 

What Will People Say? A Graduation Speech About Defying Expectations 

Doshi says one of the highlights of Doshi's final year at Temple University is being selected as undergraduate student speaker for the CEHD graduation ceremony. "I am so excited. I am surprising my parents with it," she shared. "I know so many people graduating with me, so being up there and seeing all my friends in the audience is going to be really cool." 

Her speech carries a message that is deeply personal to her: "What will people say? It does not matter." This idea of letting go of external judgment is one that she has carried throughout her life, but especially in the last four years.  

This perspective took shape as Doshi was pivoting from classroom teaching to pursue educational policy, which initially left her uncertain. "I did not know if this was the right answer. What if I tell people and it doesn't work out?" she recalls thinking. As the first person in her family to attend a master's program, she also felt pressure to make the "right" decision. 

Ultimately, she embraced her path. "I am doing something that I love. I am still in education. I am doing something that I am very passionate about." Accepting that she does not have to follow the expected trajectory is a central theme of her speech.  

Making an Impact in Education Policy: Vision for the Future 

In August, Doshi will begin a master's program in educational policy at George Washington University. "I am going to be doing a lot of research, either on the economics of education and how that impacts schools at local and state levels or working with immigrant and refugee students and their experience navigating the U.S. education system," she shared. 

Her interest in the economics of education grew from her coursework and firsthand exposure to funding disparities in Philadelphia's public schools. "A lot of policies I researched were tied to monetary issues: funding schools, Title I and inequitable resource distribution. Seeing that inequity firsthand in Philly pushed me toward wanting to study this." 

She credits her Temple experience with preparing her for graduate school. "My political science and history classes helped with research skills. My capstone projects involved heavy research, which aligns with what I will be doing in my master's program. Also, the encouragement from my professors was huge: they wrote my recommendation letters and supported me every step of the way." 

Looking ahead, she also hopes to work with nonprofits or think tanks. "I want to stay involved in research or work directly with communities that need support. Whether it is through policy development or hands-on programs, I want to make an impact." 

The Courage to Carve Your Own Path 

Doshi's journey through Temple University has been filled with exploration, self-discovery and bold decision-making. She has embraced a unique path that merges education with political science to shape the future of educational policy. 

As she takes the next step in her career, she carries forward the message she will deliver in her graduation speech: the courage to forge your own path despite outside expectations. "At the end of the day, I hope people realize they do not have to follow a predetermined route," she said. "Do what makes you happy. That is what matters most."