Emily Stables – PGCE
Emily Stables
PGCE
How are you finding being a teacher?
‘Amazing, but it can be very demanding. It is a non-stop role but seeing the students’ progress within themselves and in a subject, they are passionate about is the best reward you can get as a teacher.’
Emily is currently teaching Animal Care from levels 2 to 4 however, whilst doing her PGCE with us at University Centre Rotherham Emily mentioned that the comparison between the first time she stepped into a classroom and the last whilst finishing her course was phenomenal.
‘The difference from start to finish in either my self-confidence, teaching styles, student engagement and students’ final results really gave me the drive to pursue a teaching career.’
What opportunities for professional development were available to you?
There were networking events which were offered by her tutors, which meant Emily could go and talk to other people who were in a comparable situation, and she got to see and hear firsthand how they had overcome similar challenges and achieved their goals. This firsthand knowledge can be invaluable in making informed decisions and helping take the next steps in your journey.
‘I got placement hours that enabled me to truly feel how it was like being a teacher whilst also still studying to fully understand if this was the career path I wanted to go into. I also had mentors and a team of like-minded people that pushed each other to be the best they could, which provided me with support and helped me with my confidence’.
Emily Stables“I’m just thankful I had the teaching staff while I was at college and while completing my PGCE otherwise I wouldn’t be in the position I am in now.”
What are some challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?
‘One of the main challenges I had to face was my confidence. I am normally an outgoing and confident person but standing in front of students and relaying information scared me. But with support from teaching staff and other class members, it allowed me to be open to trying different teaching styles which allowed me to be my confident self again. I’m just thankful I had the teaching staff while I was at college and while completing my PGCE otherwise I wouldn’t be in the position I am in now.’
What advice would you give to someone considering going into teaching?
‘Be persistent. There are a lot of times where it may feel like you’re not making much of a difference or your students are not engaging, but there are many more times where you will feel the reward of your role and the impact you are making on the students’ lives.’
