尤物视频

For as long as she can remember, Maria Suzin has loved dancing鈥攁nd even more than performing, she loved teaching it. Growing up in Metro Vancouver, Maria spent years in the studio, eventually becoming a dance instructor for young children. That hands-on experience opened her eyes to something unexpected: a future in education.

鈥淭eaching dance showed me that every child learns differently,鈥� Maria shares. 鈥淵ou can do the same activity with two groups and have completely different results. I had to adjust and really think about what each group needed. That kind of adaptability is something I now bring into everything I do.鈥�

Maria is now completing her Bachelor of General Studies in Education with a minor in Early Learning and Educational Psychology. She鈥檚 also a regular volunteer at the elementary school she attended as a child鈥攇iving back to the same community that helped shape her.

Discovering Community and Confidence at SFU

Maria didn鈥檛 originally set out to become a teacher. She began her undergraduate studies in the School for the Contemporary Arts at SFU, majoring in Theatre Production and Design on the Vancouver campus. While she loved the creativity and behind-the-scenes work of theatre, her heart was pulling her in a different direction鈥搕oward education and working with young children. 

Her part-time job as a dance teacher, where she worked closely with young children, began to shift her perspective. She found herself looking forward to those classes鈥攖he interactions, the laughter, the challenge of tailoring lessons to different kids鈥攁nd realized that this kind of work lit her up in a different way.

鈥淥ne thing that I鈥檝e noticed in my job is that every child works completely differently,鈥� Maria explains. 鈥淪o, every time that I teach, I have to build my class to advocate for the children that I鈥檓 working with.鈥�

That clarity led her to transfer to the Faculty of Education, where she saw a path that aligned more deeply with her strengths and values. 鈥淚鈥檝e always enjoyed being around kids,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e creative, curious, and honest. I feel like I relate to them and that I can help them feel seen and supported.鈥�

When she moved to SFU鈥檚 Burnaby campus, Maria looked for ways to meet like-minded peers鈥攁nd quickly found the (ESA). 鈥淚 wanted to connect with others in the Faculty of Education,鈥� she explains. 鈥淲hen I found out about ESA, joining felt like the right move.鈥�

Since then, she鈥檚 taken on a more active role in the ESA and built strong friendships through it. 鈥淏eing part of a club can be overwhelming sometimes鈥攅specially when it comes to event planning鈥攂ut it鈥檚 also one of the most fulfilling parts of my time at SFU,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t made me realize that SFU is more than just a place to study or write exams. It鈥檚 a place to grow and belong and has made my time here even more valuable.鈥�

Looking Ahead to the Classroom鈥揳nd Beyond

Now in her third year and just one year away from completing her degree, Maria is already planning her next step as she continues her teaching journey: applying to SFU鈥檚 Professional Development Program (PDP), where she hopes to deepen her teaching practice and eventually step into a kindergarten classroom of her own.

鈥淚 know the kind of teacher I want to be,鈥� she says. 鈥淪omeone who takes the time to get to know her students, understands what they need, and makes learning joyful and safe. I want to create a space where every child feels supported.鈥�

For Maria, teaching is more than a career鈥攊t鈥檚 an extension of who she is: creative, compassionate, and community-driven. Whether she鈥檚 leading a dance class or volunteering in a school, her goal stays the same: to uplift and empower the next generation.