What inspired you to want to become a maths teacher?
Having 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.