Teach Share Learn

WHY I LOVE TEACHING! I make a massive difference in the lives of young people – even when I don’t realize it. I am constantly learning new skills. I came in this job to teach French and Physed. Now I run clubs, coach sports, break up fights, provide counselling, teach life skills, support my colleagues....No day is ever the same. Ever. I build positive relationships with students, colleagues, parents and the wider community. I am a role model. People look to me for advice and guidance and that feels pretty good. My students teach me as much as I teach them. There is constant laughter. Learning can – and is – fun and that goes for the teacher too. That moment where a student finally gets it. The thank yous mean a lot. The end of year gifts are great (wine, please) – but the cards and verbal gratitude from the young people who you have impacted are just perfect. The parents are pretty sound too. For every one that gives me a hard time and complains about the quantity of education, there are ten that worship the ground you walk on for going the extra mile for their child. I get to meet colleagues with a passion for teaching equal to mine who will become friends for life. The challenge – and success – of getting the kid that hates me to like me. WIN. The sheer chaos of a classroom. Noise, mess, laughter, excitement and pandemonium. What isn’t there to love? Seeing excitement in students thrilled by a topic makes my day worthwhile. If I can blow a mind now and again, I will constantly be a source of interest. In fact, I am the life and soul of the party in the classroom. Seeing a class of faces hanging onto your every word makes my chest swell with pride. Teaching is my life – it is not merely a job with nice ‘holidays’ – and I wouldn’t change it for the world.