Q: How did you become a teacher?
A: I completed a postgraduate master’s degree in marketing after my undergraduate degree but the only plus seemed to be the commission-based sales which I had no interest in. I was working for the US Embassy which was interesting but paid poorly. I thought I would train as a teacher to do supply until I figured out what else to do but fell i love with it from my first teaching placement.
Q: What are you most proud of in your teaching career?
A: I am proud of creating a successful media department in the school where none existed before. Many pupils have gone on to further study film or work in the film and TV industry which is booming in Scotland.
Within the school it has been a joy to see just how creative our young filmmakers are and how the pupils who aren’t always successful in other areas can thrive in the media when they’re interested and committed enough. It isn’t an easy subject, but it is an exciting one.
Q: What do you like to do to unwind when you are not in the classroom?
A: The first answer should be obvious – I spend a lot of spare time at the cinema. I live near a couple of great cinemas and try to see everything that comes out. The second way I spend my free time is by being as creative as possible, I attend a stained and fused glass workshop every week and produce glass pieces great and small.
Q: What do you love about being part of the Garnock community?
A: I love working with the young people in our community – they impress me with their creativity and brilliance. Because I have been a member of this community since 2006, I am in the privileged position of having clear memories of the best and worst times in our school. It’s also amazing to be working with ex-pupils and now teaching some of their children too. I hope they remember me as fondly as I do them.
Q: What is one of your proudest moments?
A: The joy of this job is the myriad opportunities we have to feel real pride in the successes of the young people we work with. Some of the best moments are small ones – when someone finally cracks something they’ve found challenging or worked hard and achieved a better grade than they thought they were capable of.
Watching people continue to work hard during the difficult circumstances of lockdown is also something I will never forget. I entered of of my pupil’s short films made independently at that time into the Scottish Youth Film Festival where they were shortlisted. They didn’t ultimately win but I was all the prouder of them when I realised all the others on the shortlist had worked in teams!
By Abigail O’Hara
