Course you are enrolled in:
Bachelor or Education (Applied learning)
Year currently enrolled in:
2011
Can you give a brief description of your career so far, including any other educational achievements (such as Vocational qualifications, etc)?
I started my career as a pastry chef out at a little continental patisserie in Glenorchy Tasmania. From there I studied commercial cookery. To further my training I headed off to the great North of Australia to Hervey bay where I began teaching cooking hospitality and pastry cooking casually at the New Senior College. A new concept in education. I then went onto to work In TAFE Queensland in different places.
I gained my teaching diploma at Griffith University which ran an in-service teaching qualification. I was fortunate to have an opportunity to work in Bali for 8 months on an Ausaid Project where I initially went to teach bakery except when I got there the was no oven. Soooo... a re evaluation led me onto teaching office skills, hygiene and English instead. An amazing experience. came back to Tasmania with my young children and started work at Drysdale almost straight away and have been here ever since.
Why did you decide to enrol in the Bachelor of Education (Applied Learning)?
I felt it was a great opportunity to do some extra study. I have been wanting to go back and further my study for some times. I did actually begin a graduate diploma in early childhood but left the course when I became pregnant with my first child. I really love the learning that university provides.
How will this course broaden your career options?
For me this course will give me an opportunity to work in a broader area. I have worked in the past in the year 11 and 12 area and I would really like to work back in that area. Up until doing this course I was not in a position to do this. I am hoping for lots more opportunities, here and overseas by completing this course.
Highlights of your study/experience so far?
What do you love about teaching and why?
I love sharing, that drives me in life. Even though I teach for a job I also teach cooking with people with disabilities and children for enjoyment on a volunteer level. Just last week I did a gingerbread class for ten children. The joy on their faces was priceless. I had a student who finished a class the other day hugged me and cried and said she didn’t know what to do now. This was a woman who had not been to school for 25 years. It is more than just a classroom teaching it was a community of learning that we had and that is very important for me. I love my students no one will deny that and if they go away with a smile on their face I’m happy. That means everything to me.
I believe teaching is about communities that you develop and that community is a whole lot of different people that you learn to live with in that class and learn things together, hec I learn so much off my students every day.
Any advice for future students?
Go forth with tenacity. Make sure you have good support systems set up . talk to your peers who are doing the same thing. Talk to your family so they understand the time you need. take time out for your family, eat well and make sure you still have fun in your life outside of uni. Its keeps you sane
Any other comments?
Just don’t not do it because you think you cant ! give it a go. My passion is getting students to a place they never believed they could get to.