Playing her final season, AU's Seagrave juggles softball, teaching job
By Shelbie Summerlin | Sports writer
Augusta University softball player Emma Seagrave, a Cookeville, Tenn., native, is in her fifth year as a college student-athlete. And when she’s not competing on the field, she’s teaching her students in the classroom as she prepares for her future.
Last fall, Seagrave was completing her final classes and getting ready for student teaching in the spring. At the end of the semester, her professor mentioned “a potential teaching opportunity” for Seagrave to take on in the spring at Copeland Elementary School, a Title 1 school.
“Title 1 schools are government funded to provide students in poverty with equitable education that meets their needs,” Seagrave said. “Immediately, I was interested because this would be a phenomenal way for me to get teaching experience while finishing my degree, and it would help me get a leg up when I start applying for jobs for the coming year. Richmond County allows student teachers to meet their requirements through accepting full-time teaching positions due to the teacher shortage. Not every county allows that which is what I find to be so unique. It’s rare that college students get an opportunity like this one.”
Seagrave went through the interview process and got the job. She now teaches fifth grade at Copeland in the Early Intervention Program.
“EIP means that a majority of my students are at risk of not reaching or maintaining academic grade level requirements,” she said.
After “long and exhausting” days filled with task after task, Seagrave says she would be tired and drained. Although she has been in this position since January and has been able to get into a routine, Seagrave says softball and teaching all day “take a lot out of [her].”
“I wake up and get ready to be at school by 7 a.m.,” she said. “I work from 7 a.m. to about 3:00 or 3:30 p.m., give or take depending on after school meetings and conferences. Once I get off work, I go directly to softball until about 5:30-6 p.m. If we have weights, then there are days where I will be at the fieldhouse until 7 o’clock. If our schedules change days, then I have to be quick to get those assignments together and still try and make it to practice.”
Not only does Seagrave teach her kids subjects like math or science, but she is “their teacher, counselor, friend, parent, authority figure, snack giver, advice giver and so on” as well.
She is also busy right now getting her kids ready for the Georgia Milestones that are coming up.
“Academically, right now, we are focusing on preparing them for the Georgia Milestones testing [that’s coming up],” said Seagrave. “We are rotating through classes, so I teach them their science standards.”
On top of all this, she has to be prepared to leave work for her kids when a sub covers her on game days.
“When we have games, I have to ask off of work and hope that a substitute will be able to cover my class,” said Seagrave. “We are also in a sub shortage. I have to make sure their work is completely laid out and ready for them.”
The little things help Seagrave relax, have fun, and have time for herself and what she wants to do.
“I have tried to make more of an effort to do things for myself to combat the burnout feeling,” said Seagrave. “I try to attend other sports games, go out to dinner with friends, go see movies, or even just take time for myself at home by watching Netflix.”
After graduating, finishing the school year at Copeland and completing her last season at AU, Seagrave plans to move back home to Tennessee.
“I am currently trying to navigate the process of becoming certified in Tennessee since the certification tests are different there than they are in Georgia,” said Seagrave. “But I do hope to continue teaching upper elementary and maybe even getting my masters in secondary education to teach middle school.”
The Jaguar softball team (1-8, 12-17) will play at Columbus State this weekend. There is a single game Friday, March 25, at 5 p.m. and a doubleheader on Saturday, March 26, with the opener’s first pitch scheduled for noon, followed by the second game at 2 p.m.
Contact Shelbie Summerlin at ssummerlin@augusta.edu.
Emma Seagrave prepares to bat for the Jaguar softball team. (photo by George Seagrave) At the top of the page, she swings away during a recent game. Seagrave is batting .275 with 19 hits (3 doubles), 10 runs and 8 RBI in her senior season. (photo by Robert Davis)
