Judith Brummer
Judith Brummer
Class Year
’08
Current home
Seoul, South Korea
Major(s)
Communication, Theatre
Current Position
Third grade teacher, elementary department head
For her first two years at Carthage, Judith Brummer studied elementary education, fully expecting to spend her career as a teacher. But by her junior year, she had a new passion. She changed her major to communication and added theatre to the mix.
Today, having graduated with a degree in communication, Ms. Brummer is putting all her passions to use as a third-grade teacher and elementary school head teacher for the Global Christian Foreign School in Seoul, South Korea.
She teaches all core subjects to her third-graders, and leads the elementary department in curriculum planning, behavior and discipline issues, teacher support, and planning and overseeing all elementary events.
She graduated magna cum laude from Carthage in 2008.
“My time at Carthage was extremely formative, and I am so glad that it helped me to get to where I am today,” she says.
What have you enjoyed most about your career?
“I love teaching! This is my seventh year, and I can say without a doubt that teaching never gets boring. Every year there’s a new class of students, and every day you just never know what the students are going to surprise you with. It’s definitely challenging, but I love that I get to come to work every day and make an incredible impact — not only on my students but on the future. I get to help them develop the skills they need and give them the tools to get out there and change the world.”
How did Carthage prepare you?
“I started out studying elementary education at Carthage, but I switched to communication and theatre my junior year. Later, I moved to South Korea to give teaching a try and found that I love it! I’m very grateful for those first two years of education classes that I took. I especially loved Marilyn Ward’s classes. She taught me the importance of integrating the fine arts into any subject that I teach.
“I am also grateful for all the communication courses that I took. Even though I am a teacher, I use what I learned in my communication classes all the time! Whether it be editing a video of our school field trip, making a fancy flier, designing our school banner, or taking photographs and keeping the school’s website up to date, my communication major has definitely enhanced my skills as a teacher and has made me an asset at my school. (Shout out to my professors Laura Rodman Huaracha, Paul Chilsen, and Jose Montoto).
“With my theatre minor, I have been able to lead and direct the drama team at my school. (Shout out to professors Neil Scharnick and Herschel Krueger)
“And finally, I don’t think I would even be living in South Korea and teaching here had it not been for the amazing study abroad trip that I took to India with Jim Lochtefeld and Matt Zorn. That trip was incredibly eye-opening for me! I had never traveled abroad before that, and after that trip, I knew that I needed to do more traveling, more learning, and more adventures. And what an adventure it has been! My time at Carthage was extremely formative, and I am so glad that it helped me to get to where I am today.”
What's your favorite Carthage memory?
“All-nighters ‘studying.’ Long talks down on the beach. The struggle of walking to class with that wind that whips off the lake. Pep band. Living in the dorms and all the pranks and shenanigans that came with that. Being an RA. InterVarsity.”
“Carthage gave me the chance to figure out who I really am and what I’m capable of. I grew up living under the shadow of my older siblings, so Carthage was a great place for me to grow and step into my own. I learned great leadership skills from being an RA and leading small groups in InterVarsity. I learned a lot about friendship through all the amazing friends that I made. I learned how to make my own choices because of the freedom that Carthage offered me. I also learned to take responsibility for all of those choices, even the bad ones. Overall, my time at Carthage was critical in shaping my character, confidence, faith, and career. Thank you, Carthage, my dear alma mater!”
Tips for current Carthage students?
“College is such a unique window of time in your life. You’re independent from your parents but still free from many responsibilities. During your time at Carthage, make the most of it. Get to know your professors. Join clubs. Start clubs. Make a difference. Take your education out into the community. You have so much time, so many resources available to you, and so many people to collaborate with! Make it awesome!”