Alex McCain doesn’t like to take himself too seriously. 

Don’t misunderstand him—he still goes to class and completes his assignments since he loves school and is passionate about his secondary education social studies major. But he embraces the motto “work hard, play hard.” 

Time spent with his dad while playing basketball taught him not to stress himself too much, or else he might not enjoy the sport. “Everything’s a lot more fun if it’s just kind of chill. Don’t take yourself too seriously, laugh stuff off,” he says. As a sporty guy, he tries to keep this in mind whenever he plays basketball, pickleball, soccer, or the other activities he enjoys. 

But he’s extended the lesson to apply to other parts of his life as well. Finding the balance between academic and social life is something Alex values. “I still take school seriously, of course, but I think if I take it way too seriously, there’s not as much time to make meaningful connections and get to know people,” Alex reflects. That’s why he likes to do his homework in Books and Beans, because he knows he’ll probably see a friend, and it doesn’t bother him at all to take a five-minute break to chit chat with them. 

And he’s bound to see someone he knows, as he’s heavily involved on campus and is an energetic, outgoing spirit. His desire to build community on campus started before he even arrived with his acceptance in the Teaching Fellows program. Teaching Fellows is not only a scholarship, but a fellowship (as the name suggests) of Godly students who aim to be effective teachers. Alex has found community and support through Teaching Fellows, with students and professors alike. Through the monthly professional development meetings and trips they have, Alex has learned valuable lessons and formed close friendships.  

“There’s 30 people in my cohort, and most of them are in Early Childhood or Elementary education, so the Secondary Education majors are all pretty close and know each other super well,” Alex says. “It’s cool since it’s another set of people that can help guide me. The director Ashley Stone and then the assistant director Dr. Knighton both know us on a super personal level, and they help us get through school.” 

Alex doesn’t only receive guidance and support, but pours it out upon others as well. In his roles as an Alpha Leader and a BCM community group leader, he helps students navigate life in college. Now a junior, he imparts advice he has gained from his experience to first year students in his AU 101 course. This is a uniquely applicable role for Alex, as the students who are entering Anderson are around the same age that his future students will be once he is teaching. 

“I think the reason I feel so passionate about it is because I want to work with students. And when they move in and I meet them, they’re just like high schoolers living in dorms,” Alex points out.  

The most rewarding aspect of Alpha leading for Alex is seeing the students grow and being able to witness their transition into college life. Currently, Alex is roommates with one of his previous Alpha students, and he says he’s a “completely different guy” than the one he first met.  

Alex’s open-heartedness and welcoming nature motivates him to truly connect with other students, especially those younger than him. He believes that there shouldn’t be any gaps between the grade levels, so he continues to try and meet first years and welcome them to the AU community. One way he does so is through the BCM community groups he has been a part of that include people from a range of backgrounds and grade levels. His freshman year, Alex was a member of a community group, but now in his third year, he is leading one of his own.  

For Alex, BCM is a very meaningful community, and he thinks what makes it special is the fact that it is voluntary. “Everyone who is there is choosing to be there, to spend their Thursday night in that way,” he says. “This year, I have a group with some upperclassmen and some freshmen, and it’s a cool dynamic. I have guys who don’t really know what being a college student is about yet, and then there’s one guy who graduated in December, and is still coming back. So, they’re in completely different phases of life, but we still get to come together and talk about the one thing we all have in common: the Gospel, because it’s changed all of our lives.”  

When he isn’t alpha leading or community group leading, Alex works at his home church as a youth pastor and also works in his school placements as part of his social studies secondary education major. Since he considers himself a hands-on learner, his roles as a student teacher in his placements and as a youth pastor at his home church allow him to put what he learns into practice. Alex appreciates that the education program at AU has ample opportunities to be in the classroom. “It makes me feel like what I’m doing in the classroom matters, you know, and I’m not waiting four years to see what I’m doing,” he says. 

Alex’s decision to pursue teaching social studies was influenced by his interest in learning history as well as his parents’ careers as educators. “I was in a history class in high school, and I was like, ohh, this is definitely for me. I can talk about something that I really enjoy and also really have a meaningful impact on kids,” he remembers.  

His experiences in his placements confirmed that he chose the right subject. By engaging the students in interactive lessons and making it clear how the historical concepts relate to them and their lives, Alex has been able to hone his skills as a teacher before even officially stepping into the classroom as a full-time teacher. “History is so exciting if you teach it the right way,” Alex says.   

Anderson University has provided so many opportunities that Alex has taken advantage of to enrich his time here, and to better prepare him for a bright future. Although he is very close with his family and sees them every Sunday, Anderson has become a second home for him, full of friendly faces and fond memories. If you see him around campus, he’s sure to give you a smile and a word of encouragement.  

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*Featured testimonials and student success stories reflect the experiences of individual students. These stories may not be indicative of the experience for all students. Employment outcomes and job titles are not guaranteed, and results may vary based on individual circumstances, job market conditions, and other factors. 

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**If you would like to support Alex and other students in the College of Education, consider giving during A Day on April 3, 2025. You can learn more about their A Day cause here.