Secondary School,
Queensland
What inspired you to get into teaching?
I always loved going to school and being in the classroom. As a child, I would play ‘school’ with my sisters and cousins, taking turns being the teacher. It felt natural, after leaving high school, that I would return as a teacher someday. I was fortunate enough during my schooling to have some amazing teachers who not only inspired in me a desire to learn, but also took the time to develop rapport and show interest in my life. Quite simply, I wanted to be like them. I wanted to make other young people feel special and cared for the way they did for me and to encourage a love for learning.
Why do you teach?
I teach because I love learning. There is not a day that goes by when I am not learning sometime new, quite often from the very students I am tasked with teaching. I love sharing my passion with my students and hope that they too will develop a thirst for knowledge and life-long learning. Hearing, from past students, that I am the reason they developed a love for a specific subject area or pursued a certain career makes me so proud. To know that I have even the smallest impact on the futures of young people is very rewarding.
What’s your stand out/most memorable teaching moment?
I have a collection of teaching moments that fill my cup and keep me coming to school each day. Witnessing and sharing in student growth, be it academic or personal, is an obvious place to start. But mostly it’s the little incidental moments of seeing small acts of kindness among students, having them say ‘thank you’ on their way out of the classroom or the little messages of gratitude I sometimes find in my pigeonhole. Often it is not until many years later, when I run into past students as adults, that I truly appreciate the impact I have had on their lives.
What is your advice for new teachers or people considering a career in teaching?
Teaching is a complex and challenging profession, but it is rewarding in equal parts. It is a privilege to be in a position where you can influence a young person’s life, so spend time developing relationships with your students to show them that you care. Never underestimate the power of a kind word or a small gesture of encouragement.
