Secondary School ,
New South Wales
What inspired you to get into teaching?
My father was a teacher in a small town. I always saw the joy on his face when he had the opportunity to show someone something new. Being in a small community, the respect and pleasant greetings he received from people who he taught, was also inspiring. Being able to see from outside the impact he had on people's lives was amazing. I also saw the harder side, the days that made him tell me never to go into teaching. He always bounced back from these days though, as soon as one of his students did or said something positive, his smile would reappear. Seeing the people who came to his retirement party, including long-time colleagues, former students, departmental staff and even a former teacher was inspiring.
Why do you teach?
I teach because I enjoy interacting with students, showing them new things and sharing my passion. In everything I have learnt, I have ended up teaching others about it at some point, through sporting clubs, volunteer groups, social media and formal teaching. I've been told so many times by friends and people I meet that they don't feel like they could teach. I usually point out that they already are, that it is one of the most rewarding things to do, whether formally in an education career, or informally through other groups. I teach to make a difference, even if that difference is only small, in the lives of students. Students need school to be a safe space. Seeing students who have had so much negative in their life achieve success through education is incredibly rewarding.
What's your stand out/most memorable teaching moment?
I had a Year 9 student in my class who had completely closed himself off to all adults in his life, including his parents. While always holding him to the expectations of classroom behaviour, I made significant effort to engage him in conversation and learn about what he enjoyed doing. He enjoyed playing games and being online with his friends and wanted to become a professional gamer. One day, I was walking through the playground during a lesson I had off and saw him sitting alone, staring at the ground. Instead of telling him to return to class, I asked if I could sit with him. I asked what was happening. He burst into tears, opening up in a way I had not seen before. I was able to help him work through his issues and return to class.
Have you received a special keepsake from your student/s that you treasure?
I was teaching a Year 12 advanced mathematics class while I was expecting a baby. When my son arrived, the class got together to get him a plush toy elephant. As a baby, this was one of his favourite toys and is still regularly played with, sitting on the shelf with his special toys.
What is your advice for new teachers or people considering a career in teaching?
Two things I have learned since starting and returning to teaching are:
Teaching is hard to do alone, so don't be alone. Find support networks in other teachers, school staff and friends. There will be hard days, but there are very few new situations in teaching. Someone else will likely have faced similar challenges before.
You will not always be able to solve every problem that a student has. Just like you will need your support networks, they will need theirs. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is just be there for your students, be part of their support network and let them find their own way.
