'Making sure every student, no matter who they are or where they come from has been given the opportunity to reach their potential'.
I feel extremely lucky to have a job like mine. Recently, I had a conversation with a student (Laki) that I knew from my old school, I had not seen her or her brother (Titta) for years. He comes along to our meetings on a Wednesday as well, even though he is not my student which is pretty cool.
It was so nice to see them again.
It really made me see the importance of our job
and that
we as teachers have the power to strongly influence someone's path in life, from a simple conversation.
Laki has just come on my roll and when we meet she told me she was really buying time till she was 16; she wanted to work with her cousin in the packhouse full time and make money.
My Dad was an orchardist and I have worked on our orchards and in the packhouse growing up, so I know first hand it is not an easy job. My Dad made my brother, sisters and I, all work on the orchard in the summers growing up. He wanted to show us what we would be doing for the rest of our lives if we didn't choose to have an education.
My Dad is Yugoslavian and has not had an easy life. He was big on making sure us kids had choices as he never got to choose his own path. There was one way for Dad and that was work. Education and sports like most other NZ children were not choices that Dad was given. He always talked about giving ourselves options in life.
I'll never forget his words... (probably the only thing I did listen too, haha)
"You want to make sure in life you have choices. A job that every day you up, you get to a job and love what you do - a job that doesn't feel like one. "
I talked about this same thing with Laki.
At the end of the day, work is your life, we spend most of our time working and sure the money will help, but really when you spend so much time doing something - it is about enjoyment.
I talked to Laki about the different options of what she could do. At first, she didn't think she liked anything and lacked confidence when speaking about herself. I see so much potential in Laki and know she is more than capable - she just has to choose.
As we spoke we came to the topic of beauty therapy, her eyes sparked up and she said that actually, 'she had thought of that before but didn't think it was really a choice she had'.
I have looked into Beauty Therapy and Laki can study part-time or full time at EIT. She can do a certificate which can lead to the diploma. It will give her time to decide if she likes it. She needs Level 2 equivalent or can sit an entry test to do the certificate.
I'm going to share this info and talk to secondary as I am not very clued up with NCEA as it is not my sector. I will pass this info on to her next teacher.
No matter what Laki decides, I support her.
It's not that I don't want her to work in a packhouse - that's the other thing my Dad installed; 'never think you are above anything' - I just want to make sure that in the short time I have been able to meet with Laki that I have done my best for her to know, that she does have options to choose her own path, whatever that may be.
It was so nice to see them again.
It really made me see the importance of our job
and that
we as teachers have the power to strongly influence someone's path in life, from a simple conversation.
Laki has just come on my roll and when we meet she told me she was really buying time till she was 16; she wanted to work with her cousin in the packhouse full time and make money.
My Dad was an orchardist and I have worked on our orchards and in the packhouse growing up, so I know first hand it is not an easy job. My Dad made my brother, sisters and I, all work on the orchard in the summers growing up. He wanted to show us what we would be doing for the rest of our lives if we didn't choose to have an education.
My Dad is Yugoslavian and has not had an easy life. He was big on making sure us kids had choices as he never got to choose his own path. There was one way for Dad and that was work. Education and sports like most other NZ children were not choices that Dad was given. He always talked about giving ourselves options in life.
I'll never forget his words... (probably the only thing I did listen too, haha)
"You want to make sure in life you have choices. A job that every day you up, you get to a job and love what you do - a job that doesn't feel like one. "
I talked about this same thing with Laki.
At the end of the day, work is your life, we spend most of our time working and sure the money will help, but really when you spend so much time doing something - it is about enjoyment.
I talked to Laki about the different options of what she could do. At first, she didn't think she liked anything and lacked confidence when speaking about herself. I see so much potential in Laki and know she is more than capable - she just has to choose.
As we spoke we came to the topic of beauty therapy, her eyes sparked up and she said that actually, 'she had thought of that before but didn't think it was really a choice she had'.
I have looked into Beauty Therapy and Laki can study part-time or full time at EIT. She can do a certificate which can lead to the diploma. It will give her time to decide if she likes it. She needs Level 2 equivalent or can sit an entry test to do the certificate.
I'm going to share this info and talk to secondary as I am not very clued up with NCEA as it is not my sector. I will pass this info on to her next teacher.
No matter what Laki decides, I support her.
It's not that I don't want her to work in a packhouse - that's the other thing my Dad installed; 'never think you are above anything' - I just want to make sure that in the short time I have been able to meet with Laki that I have done my best for her to know, that she does have options to choose her own path, whatever that may be.
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