Taking on Tanzania: From Engineering Student to Science Teacher

After four years of studying Biological and Agricultural Engineering at NC State University, Victoria Wright had no idea she would soon be trading the classrooms of Weaver Labs for classrooms at a secondary school in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. 

Wright graduated under the Weaver Pavilion with the rest of the Class of 2024. Then, she couldn’t imagine her love for adventure would lead her to serve two years in the Peace Corps.

We caught up with Wright to learn about her post-graduate life living and teaching at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Is this something you’ve always wanted to do? 

It was definitely always on my mind. I interned at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Denver, Colorado the summer before I graduated. There were a ton of retired Peace Corps volunteers there, so I talked to a few people about it and applied.

How did you feel about the prospect of teaching?

I was pretty excited about teaching. I taught a little as an undergraduate student. I instructed yoga and dance group fitness classes. I knew it was definitely something I would be interested in. I teach secondary school here which is equivalent to junior high. Coming from primary school, some of the kids don’t know English. That can be challenging because the textbooks and exams are in English. It helps that I use both Swahili and English in the classroom to bridge the gap.

What other responsibilities do you have? 

Along with teaching, I helped renovate the library. Before the renovation, people didn’t use it because it was just super dark, crowded and disorganized. There was space for the renovation and a lot of books, so revitalizing it has helped integrate it into the normal school day. 

What drew you to this experience? 

I have always been very willing to travel. I moved to Denver, Colorado the summer after my junior year. I also lived in Madison, Wisconsin while I was doing research at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. I value new experiences and adventure, and I wanted to explore teaching a little bit more. Sometimes it does seem crazy that I live in rural Africa, but it makes sense to me. 

What do you think you have brought to the experience as an NC State graduate? 

I’ve been thinking about this a lot. I keep reflecting on the mental strength it takes to get an engineering degree from NC State. I always remind myself that I graduated with an engineering degree, so I can do hard things. That comforts me because I know I can handle challenges here as well.

What are you planning to do when your service ends? 

I am thinking of going to graduate school. I finish my service in November 2026, so I’ll probably start school the following fall. I’m interested in an interdisciplinary program that combines engineering, STEM, international development and sustainability. 

What has been your favorite part? 

It’s so cool to travel. It has really broadened my mental map of the world. I feel like I’ve unlocked this new continent by learning about the culture through new foods and a new language. I also unlocked a part of my brain. This whole experience proved to me that you never stop learning. I learn something new here everyday, and I’m so excited to be a lifelong learner.