Ms. Karen Kosch used to sit in the Montclair State College library pouring over court cases and researching influential trials. She was a diligent student pursuing a career in law.

But she graduated from the college—now university— with a teaching degree in history instead.

Now a PV history teacher, Kosch began her college education with plans to major in political science and minor in paralegal studies. She intended to attend law school after graduating.  

“My older brother was a lawyer and the thought was to follow in his footsteps and become a lawyer,” Kosch said.

But, after countless hours studying law in the library, Kosch began to realize that this pursuit may not be as thrilling as she had hoped it would be.

During fall of her junior year, Kosch realized that she was better suited to be a teacher than a lawyer.

“I had to take a speech class in college and you had to give these different types of speeches. I would always prepare myself. I was always so nervous when I spoke,” Kosch said. “After, one of the speeches during my junior year, my teacher asked me if I ever thought about teaching.”

Before that moment, Kosch had never seriously considered a career in education. Kosch’s professor said she had a great presence in front of people, was always well-prepared, and delivered information well—all the hallmarks of a good teacher.

“So I dropped the paralegal minor and jumped over to a social studies education minor.”

Although Kosch did not end up with a law degree, law is still a significant part of her life. Every day, her knowledge of law enhances her history lessons and classes.

“There are certain contents that we study that are surrounded by law,” Kosch said. “For example, one topic would be the Constitutional rights that you need to know when studying history.”

While her law studies were not wasted, switching her career path so late into her college experience was no easy feat.

“I had to double up and take 19 credits each semester,” Kosch said. “This included going to winter and summer sessions to get all the credits in for class work before the spring of my senior year so I could be a student teacher.”

At first, her parents were not very supportive of her decision to switch her minor. They had always advised her to not be a teacher since they believed that the career does not lead to as many opportunities. However, they soon changed their stances.

“When my parents saw what I came home with each night—all the papers, planning, and work—they started to come around to the idea that there is a lot that goes into teaching,” Kosch said.

After college, Kosch began working at Glen Rock High School as a student teacher.

There was an instant spark and she hasn’t looked back since.