What are your plans after high school? Do you plan to attend college? Most students attempt college and figure out what they want to do for the rest of their lives. However, there are many alternative paths you can take after high school; some people choose to travel; some people choose to go straight into the workforce, and then others go to college. 

It may be difficult for many to decide what they want their future to look like. Hayley Twigg and Alysha Duff, alumnae of Carolina Forest High School, were both working in their college field of study for a few years before making a decision that would change their lives and take them over 9,000 miles away from home.  

Hayley Twigg attended Clemson University where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Communications and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to pursue a sales career in the graphic design industry.  After three years, she felt her work situation became toxic.  Her company was going through an acquisition; co-workers were being laid off, and people were unhappy. She started to dread to go to work each day and knew that she needed a change.

Alysha Duff attended the University of South Carolina, majoring in Public Relations. After college she worked for three years in the PR industry, although her position directed her more towards graphic design.   She felt “unfulfilled” because she did not want to work with graphic design and wanted to find more purpose. As she looked for a change, she came across a teaching job in Thailand, where she would teach English as a foreign language. 

Duff shared, “I had been considering options that would allow me to leave Charleston and travel to Asian countries.  One day while catching up with Hayley on the phone and having the usual “so how’s work and everything?” conversation, she threw a huge curveball and told me her plan was to resign from her job and teach abroad.  I realized we were on the same wavelength and decided to resign from my job and join her.  We hit the ground running!”

Duff and Twigg, best friends since pre-school, decided to follow their passions of traveling and helping people.  Since May 2019, they both resigned from their jobs in Charlotte and Charleston and moved to Thailand and have been teaching at Marie Anusorn Buriram School.  Both share that the experience has definitely been a positive life-change.

“The students here are so respectful and thank me for teaching them every day. They are so eager to learn English and participate in class!” exclaimed  Twigg. “I feel much more humble and selfless since I have started teaching.” 

“What I’ve learned from my first-graders is that simplicity is everything. Living in a second world country, these kids don’t have access to half of the luxuries that American kids do – but they are just as happy, if not happier,” added Duff. “I never realized how much work it took to be a teacher, and I wish so badly that I could rewind time let all my teachers know how much I respect them.”

Both Duff and Twigg are enjoying their new teaching careers in Thailand. They are also able to visit other countries during their time off, such as Cambodia and Malaysia.  It’s an adventure full of new culture and friends.

Some of us may have a vision of what we want our futures to look like, while others have no clue what we want to do with our lives; both are normal.  Life is spontaneous, and it’s important to recognize that we can redirect our paths whenever and however we want.  Be inspired and take risks like Alysha Duff and Hayley Twigg so there will be no regrets!