Star teacher of the week
Janine Diergaardt is a grade 8 to 11 life skills teacher at Keetmanshoop Private School
Pull Quote: "Teaching is a calling, and I still believe there's a reason why I'm on this journey and why things didn't work out as I've planned."
When and why did you become a teacher?
I never thought of teaching as a career until 2014 when I entered the classroom for the first time. The fact that I struggled to find a job in my field of study forced me to look for another career path and I pursued teaching. This is where and when I discovered that I have a great passion for education and children. The classroom is absolutely where I want to be, and I take the task of developing young people into kind, thoughtful and contributing adults very seriously.
What is the best part about being a teacher?
Being a teacher is not a boring job! Frustrating, yes, sometimes. Difficult, yes. But boring, no! For someone like me, who loves adventure, you go on many journeys right within the walls of your classroom. Journeys of growth as students grow, you grow, and the class as a whole grows on different levels, not only academically-and that means absolutely the world to me.
Can you tell us your journey towards becoming a teacher?
It has been a rollercoaster ride. Life holds surprises for us sometimes. My journey towards becoming a teacher has taught me several things, like how important it is for individuals to continue to learn and grow. While I never would have predicted that I'd end up in teaching, it is truly the perfect position for me, and there's nowhere else I'd want to be.
What has been the highlight in your career so far?
I have quite a few highlights, but I can confidently say the best highlight for me is the day I moved to the life skills department. Life skills are not for the faint-hearted, you need to be mentally, emotionally, and psychologically very strong to deal with different situations on a day-to-day basis, but the immense gratitude I see on the faces of learners when they tell you that you made a difference is incredibly fulfilling.
What are some of your hobbies or things you enjoy doing in your spare time?
In my free time, I love to watch documentaries or real-life stories. First of all, I enjoy watching them, but I also believe that they help me to broaden my horizons, and to learn a lot of things which I can use in my work as a teacher. I'm also a family-oriented person, I spend a lot of time socialising and bonding with my family. Other than that, I love traveling and exploring new towns.
What are some of the changes you've brought to the school where you're currently working?
I currently work at Keetmanshoop Secondary School - a school that lies very close to my heart. One of the biggest projects I steer is the soup kitchen, where we try to give a proper meal to over 40 learners daily. I've realised that many of our learners are in dire need of it; for some learners this is the only meal they have per day. Not only are these learners provided with a meal but it also encourages them to plough more into their education and it brings the school community together.
What is your dream for the learners of your school?
I dream that my learners will not be judged by their circumstances and that their circumstances will not hold them back in life, but that they will rise and use their difficult circumstances to boost and encourage them to make something of themselves so that one day they can be able to plough back into their homes and improve the circumstances.
When and why did you become a teacher?
I never thought of teaching as a career until 2014 when I entered the classroom for the first time. The fact that I struggled to find a job in my field of study forced me to look for another career path and I pursued teaching. This is where and when I discovered that I have a great passion for education and children. The classroom is absolutely where I want to be, and I take the task of developing young people into kind, thoughtful and contributing adults very seriously.
What is the best part about being a teacher?
Being a teacher is not a boring job! Frustrating, yes, sometimes. Difficult, yes. But boring, no! For someone like me, who loves adventure, you go on many journeys right within the walls of your classroom. Journeys of growth as students grow, you grow, and the class as a whole grows on different levels, not only academically-and that means absolutely the world to me.
Can you tell us your journey towards becoming a teacher?
It has been a rollercoaster ride. Life holds surprises for us sometimes. My journey towards becoming a teacher has taught me several things, like how important it is for individuals to continue to learn and grow. While I never would have predicted that I'd end up in teaching, it is truly the perfect position for me, and there's nowhere else I'd want to be.
What has been the highlight in your career so far?
I have quite a few highlights, but I can confidently say the best highlight for me is the day I moved to the life skills department. Life skills are not for the faint-hearted, you need to be mentally, emotionally, and psychologically very strong to deal with different situations on a day-to-day basis, but the immense gratitude I see on the faces of learners when they tell you that you made a difference is incredibly fulfilling.
What are some of your hobbies or things you enjoy doing in your spare time?
In my free time, I love to watch documentaries or real-life stories. First of all, I enjoy watching them, but I also believe that they help me to broaden my horizons, and to learn a lot of things which I can use in my work as a teacher. I'm also a family-oriented person, I spend a lot of time socialising and bonding with my family. Other than that, I love traveling and exploring new towns.
What are some of the changes you've brought to the school where you're currently working?
I currently work at Keetmanshoop Secondary School - a school that lies very close to my heart. One of the biggest projects I steer is the soup kitchen, where we try to give a proper meal to over 40 learners daily. I've realised that many of our learners are in dire need of it; for some learners this is the only meal they have per day. Not only are these learners provided with a meal but it also encourages them to plough more into their education and it brings the school community together.
What is your dream for the learners of your school?
I dream that my learners will not be judged by their circumstances and that their circumstances will not hold them back in life, but that they will rise and use their difficult circumstances to boost and encourage them to make something of themselves so that one day they can be able to plough back into their homes and improve the circumstances.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article