At the end of Grade 11, I was faced with the 'make or break' question : "What do you want to study?". I've always enjoyed reading and apparently when I make good points. My friends always told me that I was persuasive and I have a way with my words. I decided at a young age that I wanted to be a lawyer when I grew up.The end of Grade 11 came and I still wanted to be a lawyer and work my way to the top to become an advocate. My parents always told me to dream big and that's exactly what I did. Further research into law made me realize that I had a few traits to be a lawyer, but something important would never allow me to be one. I would never, ever, be able to sit behind a desk all day. I am what one would call a "socialite" and law was not something for me.
Dreading the whole law decision, I spoke to my parents after my first term of Grade 12 explaining to them that I can't see myself studying law. Imagine that! Most of my life wanting to be a lawyer only to have changed my mind. I consider myself lucky to have been blessed with the understanding parents that I have. I found something interesting called "Biokinectics". Basically it deals with the rehabilitation of muscles and muscle strengthening. Now that sounded interesting. In order to be a Biokinecticist meant that I would have to study sports science. The best part of this meant that everyday would be different and I would be interacting with lots of people on a daily basis. I finished high school and then went to study sports science in university.
Universities have this thing called a "first year drop out rate". After 5 months of studying sports science, I dropped out (I was an added percentage to this drop out rate). My heart was not in it at all. I couldn't see myself as a Biokinecticist. It didn't fit who I am as a person. Again, thank you Mom and Dad for being so understanding and being supportive. I had half a year ahead of me where I could do nothing, or I could do something with my life.
A month later, I found an online Interior Design Degree which was recognized and I could do it in my own time. Could I see myself as an interior designer? Probably. I am very artistic and interior design was in depth learning of different art aspects.What drew me to it was I studied art until grade 12. This had me studying to be an interior designer and drawing up a whole new goal board.
Being only 18, my parents spoke to me and told me that they felt as if I was too young to go out into the big business world (which I understood completely because I don't have a single business bone in my body). After conversing with them, I decided to look for another career option. Don't get me wrong, my interior design degree is here to support me if things don't go as planned.
I was looking at requirements to study teaching at a private institution. Don't ask me how. I filled out details and instead of selecting next, I selected submit. It took about 5 minutes of staring at my laptop screen to realize what I had done. Oops. I told my parents I accidentally submitted an application form for intermediate phase teaching. They looked at me and shook their heads knowing that this was me being me. Two days later I got a phone call arranging an interview and a week later I was accepted to study intermediate phase teaching.
Crazy how it all works. But, it gets even better.
I am a Christian and church plays a big role in my life. From the age of 14 I have been volunteering and helping wherever I can, mostly dealing with kids ministry as well as youth ministry. I am preacher. I have been blessed with the gift of being able to stand in front of a crowd and speak without being nervous. I have been teaching children between the ages of 6 to 12 for 5 years and teenagers for 3 years. See, my style of preaching is not to ram knowledge into someone, but to teach someone and to help someone. I have been teaching for 5 years and it was only at my tender age of 19 that I had this revelation.
You see, I didn't chose to teach, but, I was blessed with characteristics of a teacher. Teaching comes naturally to me. Now that I am studying intermediate phase teaching, my life at this moment seems to be filled in a good way. I absolutely love working with children (probably because I am a child at heart) but I also love that I have the chance to be a better teacher than what I thought my teachers were like.
I'm sure you are able to see that I really am the "go with the flow" type of person. Also, a lot of what I have planned never goes according to plan. That's okay though because I believe whatever is meant to be, will be. My story of getting into teaching is fine. I hope that it inspires you and it shows you that it is okay to change what you're studying because you are not happy. It is okay if things never go to plan. Your life's plan will fall into place at it's perfect timing. All you have to do is embrace every moment that is offered to you.
