Towards the end of my Primary School Year’s, I moved from Newcastle to Dundee. It wasn’t until this point that I had the chance to reflect on the impact my first school had on me as a person. To my family and I, it wasn’t just a school, it was a community. The teachers had a great relationship with the pupils, as well as the parents and the wider community.
My teachers had a calming nature, were approachable and all shared a passion for teaching which was distinct. The dedication they had towards us pupils and our development all contributed to creating a comfortable, compassionate classroom where everyone was welcome. It always felt as if they got to know each pupil individually and had an understanding of who we all were. When I moved to my other school, I didn’t quite get this sense of devotion anymore, which made me realise how lucky I was for the majority of my school years. Having such strong role models from a young age helped to shape me in to the person I am today and is what has inspired me to pursue a career in teaching.

I aspire to be like the teachers I had growing up and will constantly think about what they would do when I am in a new or difficult situation. With my experience, I feel I have a strong understanding of how important it is to establish a community and not just a place where children go because they need too but where they can look forward to going each day. This has also encouraged me to be a teacher as I hope I can create this welcoming environment in my classroom and inspire someone else in years to come.