What inspired you to want to become a maths teacher?

Henna MahmoodHaving spent five years’ working extremely hard during my civil engineering degree apprenticeship I had hoped and expected the moment I obtained my degree certificate to be one of immense pride and joy but most importantly excitement of what was yet to come. In fact, it was quite the opposite. I felt panic. Everyone around me was proud of me getting to the finish line but for some reason I felt like I was at the start of the race.

I think the moment I realised I was in the wrong career was a few months earlier when I had applied for a job role, been successful at a higher position with a better salary, but I didn’t take it. What was wrong with me?  For me the job was missing something which when I first started in the industry, I didn’t think I would crave so deeply. I wanted to make a difference. I know it’s a cheesy line and sure civil engineering makes a difference on the large scheme of things but, I am a small cog in a very large system. If I was removed, the machine would still run smooth and any work I contributed towards had a larger contribution from hundreds of other engineers. I wanted to feel as though coming into work truly helped impact a person’s life. So, I had a choice. I could just keep climbing the career ladder always thinking what if? or I could do something about it.

I spent time trying to determine the right career path for me but then I realised there was a job I had always wanted to do but didn’t have the courage. One thing worth mentioning is the person I was at the start of my apprenticeship compared to the end are two opposites. In 2016, I was extremely nervous. I still remember when public speaking would cause my palms to sweat as well as my heart beating so fast against my chest, I couldn’t hear my voice. Fast forward to 2021 and I’m on a European panel speaking in front of 9,000 members of staff. You can imagine 18-year-old me shuddering at the thought of teaching a group of 16-year-olds despite this being a route I had always wanted to take. I decided to go back to what I had always wanted to be as I was no longer afraid. I can say confidently the way I have felt since making this decision is how I should have felt the moment I held my degree certificate. I’m where I’m supposed to be for the first time in what seems like forever.

By Henna Mahmood

You can find Henna on LinkedIn here.

Image provided by author