So I’ve actually done it. I’ve submitted my teacher training application. If it’s successful then I’ll be back at university in August. Eeep! I don’t want to get my hopes up because I’m really not sure if I’ll get on the course or not. I think I’ve got plenty of relevant experience with stuff I’ve done before but it’s mostly been with adults. I’m not sure I have everything they’re looking for. It all depends on funding and places and crap like that too so I just have to hope I get an interview and if I do then prepare as well I can, be myself and hope for the best!
I went to school yesterday too. I don’t think I’ve actually been in a school when there were kids there since I left school at 16 (I did my A levels at a sixth form college so that doesn’t count). To be honest it hasn’t changed that much since 1994. Well apart from that then whiteboards were cutting edge and now they’ve got these fancy smartboards that are connected to the computer and have special ‘pens’ you can use to write on them and they’re touch screens so you can move stuff about and all sorts – they’re like magic!! So they were new but the naughty kids were still there throwing each other’s pens on the floor, and the geeky girl whose mum obviously wants her to get bullied by making her wear full regulation uniform and ‘school shoes’. Actually, something else that has changed – when I was at school our uniform policy was quite strict; shirts buttoned up, ties on, shoes not trainers – I wasn’t even allowed to wear trousers, it was regulation knee length skirt all the way. These days skinny jeans and converse seem to be acceptable school uniform. I guess I’m going to have to get over my ‘it wasn’t like that in my day’ mentality if I’m going to be any good at this!
On the plus side, in one class the naughty kids taught me to play a random Spanish card game (although I still don’t really understand it) and I kicked their asses! Then gained much respect by being able to shuffle cards all fancy like. It was a bit weird being called ‘Miss’, I quite liked it though.
The whole thing is a bit odd to be honest. I don’t know quite what to think about it yet, because this is a massive decision. Properly like, the rest of my life, decision. I know I’ve applied but I could still back out yet. I really do think this is what I want to do – there are so many benefits, both personally and professionally – BUT I also know how fickle I can be. And once I’ve committed to this I really can’t change my mind.
For now I’m going to carry on with the application, do some more research, make some more visits to school and if I get on the course I’ll make the final decision then. Maybe I might actually become a grown up at last!
