I was never one of those kids who always wanted to be a teacher but I was one of those kids that everyone knew I was going to become one. You know those kids who always have their hand up and want to write the date on the board- yeah, I was one of them.

I was probably described as bossy, arrogant and a smarty pants (to use the technical term). But I saw myself as assertive, confident, and yes, a smarty pants. Despite being the youngest in the year, I was the top performing girl in my Year 2 SATS. And I still tell people that fact to this day. Arrogant?…I don’t see it.

I wasn’t always as confident and outgoing as I am today. I was actually incredibly shy as a child and would hide behind my mum’s legs if anyone tried to speak to me. I was even shy around my own Aunty (but she did wear this very loud red lipstick that was fashionable in the 90s…it was a no from me). But where I came alive was sports and Drama- most people like either or but I love both! Both taught me a lot and allowed me to grow in confidence.

I also just loved school. I loved learning and I couldn’t imagine my life without going to school everyday so really I only had a few career options.

Fast forward 10 years and I had graduated from uni but didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life but then the moment it all clicked: my friend, Jamie, and I went for lunch together. I was an aspiring actor (full-time waitress) but I wasn’t having much luck (or fun). I very quickly realised everyone was 5ft, 6, slim and blonde and could sing, dance and act better than I could. I also love structure, routine and stability (which the acting world had none of).

Jamie told me he was going to be a teacher. He said he was looking into it and the applications for next year closed soon. It was just one of those moments that everything made sense and I saw it all so clearly. That’s when I knew, I was going to be a teacher.

So I went home and proudly declared to my mum that I was going to be a teacher. My mum is always super supportive of my many, many ideas and goals and this was no different. She helped me sort everything out and before you knew it, I was enrolled for the following September.

The teacher training year was the hardest year of my life. I wasn’t paid to train (that’s another rant for another time!) so I would go to school and work from 8am to 4pm then I would drive to the local theatre and work from 5pm until 11pm. I didn’t do this every day, of course, but I did it quite often just so I could earn a little bit of petrol money. Teacher training is like learning how to swim as the pool gradually gets deeper. Your confidence grows but it is a very gradual process. Then before you know it, you have your first real teaching job and 32 students are looking at you expecting you (a 22-year-old woman child) to guide them on an educational journey to success. It is a wild ride! Luckily, I had some amazing colleagues who helped me to navigate the extremely difficult job of a teacher.

And actually, I would say if it wasn’t for the amazing colleagues and friends I’ve made throughout my years in teaching, I probably wouldn’t have been able to achieve the things that I did. In my 10 years of teaching, I have taught KS2, KS3, KS4 and KS5. I have been Head of Drama and created curriculums from scratch. I have been Head of Year 7 for 4 years and specialised in transition from Year 6 to Year 7. I have completed my MA in Education (whilst working full time as a teacher and Head of Year). But most importantly, I always enjoyed my job. I will look back on my classroom section of my career with extreme pride and fondness. I phrase it like that because I have left the classroom but I will always and forever be a teacher.