What are you doing now?
I’m a Primary School teacher in Abu Dhabi, where I’ve been living for the past three years.
What route did you take up to this point?
I went to Liverpool John Moores University to study Primary Education and French. I spent my summer breaks working in France, Spain and Indonesia before making my way to the Middle East once I graduated.
Any significant crossroads?
I worked for a charity training teachers in Indonesia for four months, which really reminded me of why I wanted to become a teacher. It exposed me to a new culture and gave me the ‘travel bug’.
What have you learnt most about yourself?
Since leaving DHSB? I’ve learned how to work with people across the world and immerse myself in different communities and cultures. I never thought I’d end up celebrating the end of Ramadan with dozens of Indonesians who didn’t speak English, but sometimes life takes an unexpected turn so just go with it!
What words of wisdom would you give to a student joining DHSB in Year 7?
Try and experience every aspect of school life that you can, you never know how it might impact you in the future. I never intended to study French at university, but after going on the French exchange for several years, I enjoyed it so much I really wanted to continue my studies! Taking on extra-curricular activities really does shape you as a person and those ‘hobbies’ that you enjoyed at school may one day influence major decisions in your life. Enjoying French at school motivated me to travel and I’ve been fortunate enough to see a lot of the world since I left school.
And for a Sixth Former leaving DHSB?
Stay in touch with your friends and learn how to cook! You’ll always be popular at university if you can make your friends great food. Also, take your yearbook with you wherever you end up as it will help remind you of where you came from and of all the great memories that you had with your friends.
Any fond memories of school you can share?
My favourites are scoring a hat-trick for the school football team to win the game 6 – 5 after being 5 – 0 down at half-time (Mr. Orkney also made an appearance in that game), playing the Artful Dodger in a school production and getting fantastic opportunities to visit Peru and Poland with the History department.
Do you have a message for any of your teachers?
Now that I’m a teacher, I know how hard it is to remember all of your students, so I hope some of you might remember me!
Mr Gomez, your guidance during Sixth Form was invaluable and I thank you for putting me on the right track so many times.
Mr Riggs, your lessons were always fantastic and I discovered Pink Floyd due to you!
Mrs Rowbury and Miss Nye (not sure if you’re still there), I am sure you are as amazed as I am that I managed to study French at university but thank you for persevering with me.
To all my teachers, thank you for all your efforts with me, I remember you all fondly and I hope I didn’t cause you too much trouble!