A Pre-service Teacher's Journey Begins

On February 24^th, 2020. I commenced my 2-year journey towards the completion of my Master of Teaching (Secondary) at the Australian Catholic University's Strathfield Campus.

This has not been my first experience at ACU as a student of education. I previously completed around two thirds of a Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary), studying part time between 2009-2010. I ceased my studies before their conclusion due to various complications and challenges arising from wanting to commit to my studies whilst also dedicating myself to raising 2 young children under school age, one of whom was only a year old and not yet sleeping through the night at the time. However, I had always planned to return to my studies when the time was right and, hence, here I am once again, a little older and a little wiser than before.

It has now been almost 20 years since the original completion of my bachelor’s degree in Applied Arts, Textiles Major at the University of New South Wales’ now School of Art & Design. Both during my studies and following them, I have undertaken several roles in the IT, ICT, Digital Media, Financial Services and Customer Service industries and gained a wealth of knowledge and skills I believe will be advantageous to me as a teacher. Not least of these is my ongoing passion and enthusiasm for new digital media technologies; textile, polymer and other new materials research and development; and the ongoing creative and innovative technological developments that come about in humanity’s ongoing quest to find new solutions for today’s and tomorrow’s world. I plan to harness my experience and enthusiasm and channel it into the planning and creation of exciting and engaging learning experiences for my students that will both educate and inspire.

American Lawyer & politician, Charles Bradford (Brad) Henry is quoted as having once said "A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instil a love of learning". Personally, I aspire to be just that, a teacher who can inspire my students, to ignite the flame of hope and imagination in their hearts and create enthusiastic life-long learners.