A New Life Path: Becoming a Teacher

In July of 2019, I graduated from University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing and English Literature. I spent the latter half of 2019 submitting endless job applications to seemingly no end in sight. In November of 2019, I got a part-time, Christmas temp job at Disney (honestly if it weren’t for Christmas I wouldn’t have even got that far). In January of this year, my contract ended at that company and I was forced back into the monotony of job application after job application.

No-one prepared me for a life outside of University where I couldn’t find a single job in my field (writing/editorial/journalism/media etc) after months of submissions and enquiries. My ultimate goal has always been to be (one day supporting myself as) a writer (author, poet, playwright) while also working for a magazine or publication. Of course, I knew this would not be a possibility straight after Uni, not even a couple of years after Uni, but did I expect this much difficulty in attaining an entry-level/graduate position? Absolutely not.

With over 100 applications to my name (yes, I made a list) I was starting to regret not applying for a master's degree course straight from my BA. There was a lot that went into my decision not to, a lot of it to do with the indecisiveness of what subject I wanted to do and seeking a break from education after being in the system my entire life. I knew that, and I definitely made the logical decision to wait another year, but I couldn't help but miss University to an extreme extent. I missed the lectures, the reading material, thoughtful discussion, having a purpose every day, the train journey, the campus, the teachers, London, learning something new and fascinating every day, having my mind nurtured and opened up. I. Missed. It. All.

So, after being out of education for almost a year with only one part-time job to my name, when January rolled around I knew it was time to begin searching and hammering home my options. However, as much as I missed University, the thought still plagued my mind that the course wouldn't begin until September, which would mean a further 9 months potentially job hunting, only to have to leave said job by the time my course started, study hard for a year with no earning potential, and do it all again by 2021. I then thought it in my best interest to defer a master's programme again, and instead find an apprenticeship type scenario where I could earn and learn, or at least where a job was going to be secured by the end of the course. Then it hit me.

The things I missed about Uni; learning every day, having discussions about English, being organised, having a purpose every day, creating projects and work, having my mind nurtured, all things I could do as a Secondary School English teacher. It’s my favourite subject, I get to help others grasp both language and literature, do for other kids what my English teachers did for me, create interesting and fun lesson plans, continue to learn and grow, continue analysing literature and having discussions, etc, etc.

I found the perfect course before January’s end for a one year, school-direct, PGCE qualification. I had to submit a 4000 character personal statement (as I did for my undergraduate degree), submit two references (one from my sixth form English teacher, and one from a Uni professor), go through many, many, MANY background checks (don’t ever say the system doesn’t properly vet its applicants), applied for £1 through UCAS and within the next two day’s I heard back with an invitation to interview on the 24th February, and a letter to say how impressed the school was with my application.

The process was very intense. I had to prepare a 5-minute presentation on an English topic of my choice (I chose Shakespeare), prepare an analysis and lesson plan on a world war 1 poem to teach to a small class, and then on the day write a 30 minute written essay, take a maths and English test, and partake in a formal interview with the headteacher and head of English. The process, although arduous and stress-inducing went very smoothly. It moved so fast that I didn’t have time to overthink it or worry myself too excessively, and I’m hoping a lot of my teaching days will be like that.

By the end of the day, I had a call from the school offering me the position for the start of September with a full bursary to pay for the course, and my own expenses. I will be studying partly at University, partly at the secondary school applying what I've learned and gaining practical experience, and a whole day of online learning. I’m fully expecting it to be the most intense experience of my life but I am so ready for it. I am also guaranteed a job right after graduating in the new term of the school year, and I’m very excited about this new direction of my life.

The pay is good, I get all of the holidays off to travel and write, I get to teach my favourite subject while hopefully improving the lives of at least one person in my classes, get to incorporate creativity with academia in my very own lesson plans and ideas for teaching the topics, get to continue working on my own side projects (poetry, plays, novels, articles, short stories etc.) and my PGCE can take me anywhere in the world to teach. The future seems endless with possibilities.

Since being confirmed on the course I have continued to have correspondence from the school and the institute running the course with further information. I have two virtual induction days on the 13th and 14th of July (online due to the coronavirus pandemic) where I get to meet the other applicants and hear more information about the course. I officially start in September with my University induction on the 24th of September, and I'm constantly inundated with reading material and ways to prepare. I can't wait to start.

I've also been getting in some teaching experience before I officially start the course. Because of lockdown, children aren't at school so I've been reaching out to help with homeschooling and tutoring; both online and in-person; teaching both primary and secondary school levels. I've loved the experience and it further assures me that I've made the right choice for September.

I’m someone who hates making decisions and can be so thoroughly indecisive because of the fear that I’ll make the wrong decision, but I feel so confident in my choice and the direction I’ve chosen to take my life, that I can’t help but feel assured it was the right one. I’ve never felt this sure of myself and I look forward to September when I start the course and the rest of my life. Here's to good choices, and new professions. Here's to my journey on becoming a teacher.

Signing off,

Bobbie May Corleys