Stuart, PGDE Secondary (Design and Technology)

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Where are you from?

Caithness, Far North of Scotland

Who or what inspired you to become a teacher?

I was inspired by the rewarding process of mentoring younger students, both while studying for a Master’s degree at university and outside in the Architecture profession. I also greatly enjoyed working with creative young people as an adult volunteer at a youth dramatics society.

What do you want to achieve in your teaching career?

If I can instill a sense of curiosity in young people, a passion for sustainability and an interest in design culture, I will consider myself very satisfied.

Were there things that made you hesitate before starting your programme? What made you decide to go for it?

I wasn’t sure whether to take the leap of a whole new career change but I wanted to make a bigger difference in the world than I was currently making. Plus, the breadth of knowledge my chosen subject speciality had to offer was too intriguing!

What advice would you give someone considering taking your programme?

Be organised. And take your time to get to know your fellow student teachers, because they have such a diverse array of interesting experiences and backgrounds to share.

What are you most looking forward to about being a teacher?

I look forward to the challenge of trying to engage young minds with the problems and issues of the world around us and hopefully we can come up with some innovative new solutions together.

Thinking about your time at school, do you wish there had been more teachers like you?

I have a lot of respect for my teachers who made the subjects come alive for me. So if I can be anything like they were, I will be happy.

What do you hope to bring to the students and classrooms that you work with?

A wonder for the amazingly complex, fascinating and interconnected world that we live in.

What is the best thing about your teaching programme at Moray House?

The people. Both tutors and students. Put a bunch of enthusiastic, intelligent and creative minds in a room and you are going to have a great time learning together. There is also a fantastic workshop facility on campus.

Have you had any experiences with the Place2Be programme? If so, what impact do you think this will have on your teaching, classroom, or mental health?

Yes. Place2Be is an excellent resource to take time to reflect on who you are as a person and how you can develop a positive mindset to take into the classroom when teaching children. I think it will give me resilience and clarity when helping teenagers deal with their own mental health, social issues & emotional challenges.