Ryan Reed

University of Maine at Farmington, secondary education social studies major, graduated magna cum laude, May 2009

Current hometown: Waterville

Age: 25

Live at home/rent/buy your own home? Own a home.

Current job? Social studies teacher at China Middle School (3 years).

Enjoy what you do? I love teaching because there is never a dull moment and we make a difference in children’s lives.

Major milestones the last four years: I married my wife, Megan, in 2009, we moved into our house in 2011, and our daughter Alexis was born this March.

If you’re comfortable sharing, how much college debt are you still carrying? Much more than I’d like to have, but less than many people I know who went to private schools or who didn’t have help.

So, the big question: Was it worth it? Absolutely! Teaching was my dream and college is how I accomplished that goal (though sometimes I question paying the same amount as some of my peers for an education and taking a career with a lesser salary than theirs).

Is your job now related to your major? Yes.

Please finish this sentence: “When it came to college, my parents were right about . . .” I can’t remember any advice they gave me, but I turned out fine, so whatever it was it must have been good.

And: “My parents were wrong about . . .” My father’s wish for one of us boys to “buy a small pickup truck.”

What are you hoping for as you look out over the next 10 years? I hope to continue living a happy and healthy life with my wife and daughter and I hope to continue making a difference as a teacher.

Do you feel your college experience plays any role in those goals? To quote the great philosopher Pitbull, “To understand the future, we have to go back in time.”

Grads face a new world: Maine college freshmen are trying to spend less, learn more and think jobs.

‘Explore careers.’ ‘Engage in classes.’ ‘Show up.’ ‘Go for it!’: Older, wiser: Our former freshmen offer advice to the class of 2017

Following the Freshmen: Where are they now?

Since the Sun Journal stopped following the original 15 students in our “Following the Freshmen” series in 2009, bringing to a close our four-year college project, they’ve established interesting lives, careers and pursuits. And gained a lot of perspective on the value of their educations. We were able to catch up with 11 former freshmen and quiz them about life, college and future goals, and how school played into all of it.

• Jennifer Berresford: In the pharmaceutical industry, pet foster-mom-to-be
• Tracy Bradley: Helping others get fit, enjoying Boston
• Sasha Campbell: Dancer, mom, busy lady
• Alison Coleman: Moving up the ranks at work, still fitting in softball
• Danielle Eaton: Marketer, mom, grateful former Bostonian
• Brian Erickson: Engineer open to new adventures
• Matt Jones: Computer engineer in Rhode Island
• Loren Lepage: Helping others rehab and loving it
• Elizabeth Mitchell: Taking life and career to the West Coast
• Tyson Morgan: Learning, teaching, writing
• Ryan Reed: Teacher, husband, dad