Ep 8 Never Give Up: How volunteering fuels a passion for lifelong learning and relentless determination to overcome educational barriers and achieve the dream of becoming a school teacher.
2:29PM May 18, +0000
Speakers:
Shelli Ann Garland
Hayley Myerscough
Keywords:
pme
haley
suppose
volunteering
people
guides
students
instagram
teacher
girl
learning
point
primary school
volunteer
met
education
important
thinking
voluntary
year
Hello, and welcome to a dash of salt. I'm Dr. Shelli Ann and I'm so glad you're here. Whether you stumbled upon this podcast by accident, or you're here because the subject drew you in welcome. Salt is an acronym for society and learning today. This podcast was created as an outlet for inviting fresh discussions on sociology and learning theories that impact your world. Each episode includes a wide range of themes that focus on society in everyday learning, whether formal or informal. So let's get stuck in Shall we?
Welcome to a dash of salt. Today I'm joined by Hayley Myerscough. Hayley is currently a student teacher completing her first year of a two year programme in the professional masters in primary education. She's just completed her first school placement and has begun substitute teaching in local primary schools to cover for teachers who are out sick or need other or scheduled leave time off. Haley completed her undergrad in maynooth University in sociology and geography. She went on to work in Toronto, Canada for two years in mortgage administration, while also providing private tutoring and voluntary work in the leading to reading programme at the Toronto library. After returning home to Ireland, Haley worked in a bank and began application for the next step in her educational journey, the professional masters in education, which is where she is now in her spare time. Haley also volunteers as a girl guide leader and facilitates a growing Instagram account. That's called at the teacher student, where she discusses her experiences on the initial teacher education programme and provides encouragement and support for others interested in teaching and education. Haley, I'm delighted to have you on the podcast to speak with you about your volunteering experiences, the things that you've learned through volunteering your road to the PME, and your platform on Instagram. We have so much to unpack today. And I'm so delighted to be speaking with you. You're always so full of energy and you're such a delight to welcome.
Thanks so much, Shelli Ann. I'm delighted to be on your podcast. Finally.
Now the placement is behind you, we can have a great discussion. So we're going to begin with your volunteer experiences. And as you know, Hayley, my research really looked at volunteer influence exposure and experience of active adult volunteers to find out how and why they became involved in volunteering, what it means to them and whether their formal and learning influenced their volunteer experience, and to provide further insight and understanding of the relationship between identity and learning through volunteering. So I'm very interested in the relationship between your past and current volunteering experiences, what you've learned through volunteering, and if it's impacted your decision to become a primary school teacher. So what is your earliest memory of volunteering or maybe awareness of what volunteering was or what it meant to volunteer?
I suppose, going back to when I was in primary school, there's actually a day in February called thinking day and on thinking day Girl Scouts and Girl Guides all around the world that are members of Wags, which is where the Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, they wear their uniform into school now I went to a school where you know, you didn't wear your own clothes, you wore a formal uniform. And then on thinking day, students were allowed to wear their girl guide uniform if they were a member. Now, at the time, I wasn't a member and I remember thinking to my mom like to myself and saying that to my mom and dad like I really want to be like part of this I really wanted here more. And at the time, I remember there was a really long waiting list to get into the local unit. So that was I suppose my first kind of like glimpse at any sort of organisation that would have been of any kind of voluntary work. And that being said, I could finally got in when I was like 10 years old, and I was a guide myself and then I went to being a young leader and then a warranted leader once I turned 18. And there's also a thing called senior branch which captures like girls in and around kind of like late teens up until 30 so they they organise activities themselves. But once I started going to guides myself, I started seeing like the work side that the leaders were doing and that really inspired me because just all the skills that they had, just being able to speak and organise and have fun and like I didn't see Volunteer work so much as a chore, it was more something that was like a pastime and something that was fun. So I suppose that's my earliest memory and was attendant Girl Guides myself. And yeah, how I kind of fell into that little passion that I have on the on the side.
And so you said that, you know, you kind of got inspired in the in the Girl Guides with volunteering. What would you say who or what do you believe? was your inspiration for volunteering? Was anybody or anything specific?
Um, well, I think the the leaders that I had at the time, they were, not only were they kind of, I suppose, and not authoritative, but they were very, they were just very clear and direct and had good boundaries. And I suppose just, I just loved how it was organised. I loved how it wasn't the people that I was in school with, but there was other girls that were there. And I just enjoyed the variety that it offered. Like, I did loads of things I like, as well after school, like extracurricular activities, and yeah, okay, I enjoyed them, like Speech and Drama, Irish dancing. However, all these kinds of activities are all incorporating girl guide. So it was just, it was just much broader than it just being so specifically to one thing, because I never saw myself as becoming like a professional Irish dancer, or like, you know, going on to win trophies or anything for Speech and Drama, or, you know, becoming a professional swimmer, or life Saviour or site saver, or whatever it is. And I just, I never, I never saw, I suppose, longevity in that, and I did in the guides, because I thought, you know, it suited me to my characteristics and my skills. And, and yeah, that's, I suppose why it was important to me.
And did you find that during primary or post primary school that you you did any other types of actual volunteering,
I just have to think about that. It's mainly Girl Guides, because I wouldn't have saw, I wouldn't have viewed the Girl Guides as a voluntary organisation until I had finished as being a guide. And then I went into being a young leader, because that was really when I was giving up my own time, I'm not really paying my termly fees, you know, that's kind of covered, because you're then offering your time to guide, you know, so that was really supposed around after my junior cert. So age 15 1617, back kind of in between ages, when you kind of get a response, like your first glimpse at like what voluntary work is so open till that point, not really I know at one point, though, in transition year, which is like the year in between, like your junior cert, and before you start, like actually studying for the Leaving Cert. And I volunteered in a in a shop, like a charity shop in town. And so when we were in fourth year, on a Wednesday, we would go in for three classes, and then we could leave, it wasn't like a full day of nine classes. And I myself and my two friends, actually, they're on Instagram as well. But Katya and Annabel the two of them, they won't mind me saying their names. And we used to go in and we take in all these bags of clothes. And I remember we'd sort through them. And so that was I suppose the second time I kind of ever thought about voluntary work. And so it was having that opportunity in transition year. And but my heart was still in the Girl Guides, and just with my friends and stuff that was more like a glimpse of like retail, I suppose I didn't really feel that I was volunteering, per se like it was volunteering, but it was more something that was part of transition year, whereas this all of the girl guys is totally separate to school. And so yeah,
and you said that after college after university, you did some volunteering with the leading to reading programme. And what kind of volunteering do you do now.
So when I lived in Canada, I really wanted to get involved in some sort of professional tutoring that would stand out to me when I came back to apply for my Master's in primary teaching. So what I did was, I contacted like a tutoring company and I met with the director that like owned the franchise of, of the company. And she said to me, Haley, this is great. And you know, it's great, well, your experience with the Girl Guides and stuff, but what I would recommend before you start, like getting involved into the tutoring, you'd need to build up some kind of Canadian experience. So she recommended the leading to reading programme in the library. So I went to the library. I you know, I investigated it. Oh, and then yeah, it was it was really good because we got some training and then you were before so it was actually good because you're meeting like students and children in a public place prior before moving into private tutoring which will be going into their home. Now obviously, you'd have to get like guarded about it or screened or I don't know what it's called over there, but That's different name. And so yeah, I suppose. And that was the voluntary work I did. And then I, you know, eventually got into the page tutoring. But I did enjoy the voluntary work. And that and then at the minute now I'm a leader in the back in the Girl Guides at back home. And we meet once a week. Now, it's been quite kind of difficult. So because I started get back into it in January 2020. And then we went into a lockdown. So that was a bit problematic. And then we met up a few times True, true to summer time, when we called in groups what we have to meet like in smaller groups. And then obviously, we went back into another lockdown. So it's just been a bit difficult, but I'm happy to like I'm going back to it now after because I took a break with school placement and stuff and things are starting to open up. So yeah, I'm excited to see what they're all up to.
So I noticed that you did sort of a fun little activity recently with your Girl Guides that you that you spotlighted or highlighted on your Instagram account. And that was making lip balm. Yeah. And did you do that virtually, with your students or with your students with your Girl Guides? Or did you do it in one of your small groups?
Yeah, so it's quite difficult to plan like to keep girls entertained, just doing the normal things. So we we'd like obviously, at the start lockdown, we looked at what badges we might not necessarily do if we were meeting in the hall, like your green finger badge or like your book badge. Or we did a um like fire safety badge. Like you can make like great PowerPoints and games and like different things like that. And then obviously, once we kind of had tired everything out, and we started looking at other cool options that we could do so yeah, one of them was making lip balms, which was very fun, very different. It was like bringing in science and stuff and especially with young girls it's really important like with STEM and stuff. And so yeah, we had like a guest and like a, like a guest on and that like did the whole like paying with like, you know, safety and stuff, like making sure that the pegs were like covered in tin foil so that the peg does not fire. And so yeah, that was really was really good.
And it was all done virtually.
It was all done virtually. Yeah. So the company and sent the packs out to each of the children's health like each of the girls homes. And yeah, that was it was very good.
Yeah, it looks like it was a lot of fun. It looked like it was a great success. And now I'm going to ask you to try to think of your fondest memory or experience of volunteering. And why would you consider that your fondest memory there.
There was an international camp a few years ago and Lough Keey in Roscommon I don't know if you're familiar with Lough Keey and there is like an island in the middle of the of the water like the lake. And we rolled out to the the island and we made our own forts to sleep. Like we stay there for the night. And which was really cool. It was kind of like a survival like weekend. And that was really fun. I really enjoyed that at the time. Like it was just very different. very adventurous. And yeah, I suppose that would be one of my fondest memories. I'm trying to think now another one actually. I went to Holland. I went to the Netherlands and that was good. I went to as a leader. And but it was worth like the guides that were a bit older. And so yeah, that was that was really fun. And just great memories that we got to sit in the cockpit on the aeroplane and just had a great laugh really. And yeah, I got to go to Ann Frank's and stuff like just fun things that girls love today.
A lot of learning and enrichment in that type of volunteering experiences, both of what you learn for yourself, but also what you watch and see the growth that happens with the young people that you're sort of leading as well.
Yeah, absolutely. And as well, a lot of things that I've done, I like that I would never have done it if I was wasn't a member of the guides, like I mean, I'm not like on your weekends, you're not going to think to go to Roscommon go to the lake, row out to the lake and then leave there and then row back the next morning. So yeah, it comes with like, great, like spontaneity, and it's very adventurous and you wouldn't really do it. Otherwise, if it wasn't just randomly organised.
And why why is volunteering, important to you?
volunteering for is important to me, I guess, because it allows you to see a different side of you that you wouldn't normally see like volunteer work, it's work like it Don't, don't get me wrong, it's it can be very tiring at times. However, you make you kind of surprise yourself with voluntary work at what you can do and the difference that you can make for not only yourself, but for those around you, and you can create a whole lifestyle around it. And you can meet people from different backgrounds, as well, with different skills and stuff. You know, like, I'm training to be a primary school teacher, more than likely majority of my friends are going to be teachers. And you know, that I'm going to make now in my professional career, so it's nice having that outlet where, you know, you're meeting people who aren't teachers, and you're meeting people, maybe that are nurses, or architects or accountants or whatever it may be. And so yeah,
yeah. And do you think that over the years of your volunteering, that you've done in Canada, and here in Ireland, do you think that you've learned, you, yourself have learned from your valid volunteer experiences? And if so, what?
Yeah, I do think I've learned, I think I've learned to stick with a passion. And I suppose I, when I applied to get into my Masters, I didn't get in the first time. And, you know, volunteer work is consistent, you you stay what your voluntary work, whereas when you're in like, say paid employment, or you're trying to get into a certain course, that's not always guaranteed, but it's the only that it's guaranteed with voluntary work, because you're giving your time is, I know, you're giving your time in both. In both ways. I do think that like you, you're giving your time to something. So I suppose that's what stays consistent. But when, when you it's not you making the decision in terms of, you know, the company is paying you or like, not consistent, it's more like, it's like a transaction, but you're instigating it.
And I'm sure it's, it's more meaningful, to Yeah, something that you know, that you enjoy doing, and you're doing it because you want to, and not because you're expecting a reimbursement for it or to be paid back.
Yeah, you're not looking for that paid reward. However, you can't like, you can't find jobs that you will get that paid for reward, like teaching, don't get me wrong, it's not completely different to, to girl guiding. Like it, there is similarities there. And that's absolutely great that I found that and I know for many people who haven't found their passion and haven't found what they wanted to do, you know, sometimes volunteer work can help you make that decision.
Ah, good point. And we're gonna be actually getting on to your road to the PME in here in just a minute. But one last question about volunteering, and then we're going to move on, you think that your formal education so your primary education, your post primary education, your, your third level education? Do you think that your formal education impacted your desire to volunteer? And if so, why?
I do think so. Because what with me, volunteering in the Girl Guides gave me an opportunity for others like to lead and to inspire, and to, to help. And the role is very diff is very similar to being a teacher and being a guide, or a facilitator. And so and especially like, with, with me saying about, you know, the world thinking day, paying about, you know, the girls wearing the uniform in school, like I had I not been in formal education, I wouldn't have seen that. So that informed me, and also having the experience of, you know, seeing what it's like, on the flip side of being the guide leader, with without being paid for it, it's giving you an insight into the characteristics and skills that are required to get into a profession.
And so now we're going to talk about your road to the PME. Because when I met you, one of the very first things that struck me was your passion. And and again, sort of maybe you'll tell a little bit of the background of how you said you've sent me made alluded to it earlier about not not getting in the first time, and you kind of sticking with it. But when did you know that you wanted to become a primary school teacher? When was the aha moment for you?
To be honest, it's all I've ever imagined myself. Now. You know, when you're in when you're applying for your CAO, when you're about to set your Leaving Cert, you're thinking, Oh, but well, primary teaching before me and, you know, you're looking at Oh, this is how much primary teachers make. And, well, this is what I'd make if I worked here. And there'll be you know, if you're in like, the private sector, and you know, and like, you know what, I'd be better if I worked in a bank or would it be better if I didn't go to college? Would it be better if I did like a skill or you know, as a hairdresser, or, you know, because they make fantastic money, you know, and it's like weighing up like, well, what kind of lifestyle I guess that you want to have. I mean, let's face it, teachers aren't the most Rich people, like they may be rich in like memories and may be rich in, I suppose, and giving guidance and help and all the great characteristics, but they're not, you know, wealthy rich, unless they they take the teaching onto something else. So I suppose when I think back to when around that time, I remember like my friends having conversations about, oh, well, you know what, you're kind of limited, then when you're your teacher, you're kind of limited to skills and well, and that's that, and that is when actually, in fact, it's not because education is so broad, like, there's so much in education, whether you wanted to teach, you know, a specific age level, additional needs, if you want to teach, you know, in more kind of DEIS areas, or, you know, non-DEIS areas, like, there's so much special speciality, in my opinion, when I think back to like, when I was a child when I actually wanted to be a teacher. And I think, like, I used to play like, the teacher with my friends. And I just loved the organisation of it. And I loved like making a book, we had like little copy books, where we make our own little games, and we draw little pictures. And guess what letter that is, and, you know, we used to swap them then with our friends and just really loved it.
I have a lot of internationalist listeners provide a little bit of an explanation as to when you're sitting, you're leaving cert and what the points mean, and how that tracks you sometimes into specific areas of what you might you know, go into if you can explain that a little bit, then we'll go on to the next question. Yeah, so
um, you go to primary school first. So Junior infant, senior infants, which is like kindergarten, then it's first to sixth class, then you go to secondary school and secondary school, it's first to third year, and then fourth to sixth year, but your fourth year in money skills is not compulsory for for me and my school was compulsory. So I did fourth year, however, in your fifth and sixth year, these are your years are going to sit you're Leaving Cert. Now the Leaving Cert has a maximum of 625 points. And now the extra 25 points used to be 600 points with the extra 25 points, you get that if you pass higher level math towards encouraging students to take the higher, higher level paper. So you have Ordinary Level paper, foundations level paper, you have a higher level paper. So depending on like the courses and what you want to do, you might have to take a higher level subjects or you might have to eat or you might have the leeway to take an ordinary level subjects depending on the course and the college and what you want to do. That being said, and you know, there's different points for different courses and for teaching colleges. And and it's very, very difficult, it can be really hard, especially if you're trying to hit over like the 400. Mark, like for a lot of students, that's really, really hard work. And then you might have some students that will be in the higher four hundreds, and they're pushing to get over into the five hundreds and you know, you're competing against all the other students sitting Leaving Cert. So
yeah. And that that's a lot of pressure to put on somebody who's 1716 1718 years old. Yeah,
Absolutely, I wanted, I had primary teaching down and I didn't get the points. And for many people, it's the exact same thing. They don't get the points, it's really tough to find your feet again. And you know, then you're studying something that you might not be interested in. And then maybe you might be interested in you just don't know. But you know, it's not cheap to go to college as well. So it is the financial burden of it, too.
So yeah, so the points dictate also what school that you get into and what subjects you're allowed to take in your higher education. Is that right?
Correct. Yeah,
yeah. So obviously, you said you didn't get in, that was your passion. But you didn't get in? What was your undergraduate degree in?
Yeah, so, I decided to go to Maynooth university. And I did my undergrad in geography and sociology. And I also took well, that Irish in my first year, so after your first year, you drop a subject. So for me, I just wanted to show an interest in Irish I wanted to keep it up the extra year because I knew that would stand to me at some point in the future when I'd want to sit for go for the PME so I did my undergrad and geography and sociology and loved it. At the time, like it was it was it was a good two subjects that go well together. Um, and then I worked as well part time while I was studying, so yeah, it was good.
And was your plan always to go on to the PME after to go on to the master the professional masters in education after you finished your undergraduate?
Yeah it was, like I would probably have liked to have gone straight into it. But then I met my boyfriend and we decided to go to Toronto together. I ended up like we were only going to stay for like three months. At It's been a year, then we got really good jobs. And then we're like, okay, we'll say another year. I'm so happy we did that, because let's look at the last year and a bit that we've had, and we've not been able to travel. So I'm grateful I went when I did.
Yeah, and there's, there's actually something to be said about that. That ability to kind of have a year or two of maturing and growing. Some self growth, and some, you know, learning some new things about yourself. And obviously, what you did was went to Canada, in between your undergraduate and before starting your application for the professional Master's in education. So do you think that your journey to the PME was difficult? And in in if it was, in what ways? And how did you overcome it?
Yeah, it was, it was certainly difficult, because I knew that this is what I wanted. And I wasn't going to stop until I got to that point. And, you know, like, you can't, like you can't take a step back, when you know, something is for you, you can say, doubting yourself, you have to keep pushing for it. Because, you know, in your heart where you're going to be most happy. And you know, when you've got experience in something, and you've got you've, you've guided or you've LED, you know, young children in or in other ways, like such as The Girl Guides for me, you know, what your passion is? And you know, if you can make a living from that, well, then you've hit gold in my opinion. And yeah, okay, it might have taken me an extra six months, or whatever it was both, like it will happen is tough, though. It's competitive, and especially with having to speak the, the Irish language and stuff that that's, that's really, really a hindrance for many in Ireland.
Yeah. And that's actually another point to say, again, for my international listeners, is that here in Ireland, in order to teach at the primary school level, you have to have a specific level of understanding, both written and spoken Irish that correct?
Yeah, yeah.
And for post primary, that is not the case, if you if you want it to be a post primary teacher, that you don't, you do not have to have that requirement. But in primary, there is still that requirement there. And which we know poses a whole new host of issues, though that requirement in sort of the the diversity of the the teachers who teach the students, but that's another story for another day or another conversation for another day. Um, so Haley, where are you on your journey now? And what do you envision for your future as a primary school teacher.
So at the moment, and I just finished my first school placement, which was great, I was teaching fourth class, so fourth grade, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, it was my first time setting foot into a classroom. And it shocks me how I suppose I was quite lucky, I had a very well behaved class, it just shocked me how how, like, cooperative, and how respectful and the students were. Not that it shocked me. But like, I didn't act like I expected, maybe, you know, children to be children, but they were just so mature, and just so respectful. And I was expecting maybe a child to be jumping out of their seats all the time, or, you know, not listening to me. And I have to say, I was very blessed that I was actually able to teach the class that I was I was put with, and so yeah, it was a great experience. I learned a lot from it. And it'll be interesting for me to compare that to a different class or a different school even. And that's where I'm excited now to kind of get my head around, because that's all I know, is that one class in that one school. So it's really important to me now that I kind of broaden my horizons and see what else is out there. Because, like, you know, just sitting for me and my teaching,
yeah, and that was exactly what I was thinking. And you said it, just as I was thinking was, you know, it's good to broaden your horizons and, and have the ability to do your second placement in a different school, a different type of school, a different obviously, class of students, and, you know, to really get a good idea for for the future. You know, what your plan is? Because at this point, you're not really sure probably what, what age, you know, range that, you know, you're really you know, after first placement, yep. You had a great experience and that may be the best experience that you have and you think to yourself, okay, I definitely want to teach for, you know, for some, yeah, your students. So, now we're going to talk about your Instagram platform, and you're an influencer Hayley.
Oh wow, I don't know about the title. But um, no, I I felt that Instagram page. Gosh, it was a month after I moved back from Canada, and I so I moved back in September, set up the page in October. And got into the PMA, the following September. So I only had the page a year before I got in. And to me, it was just a great way to connect with like minded people. And then it kind of was, it was actually something I avoided then when when I didn't get into the masteries the first time because to be honest with you surely and it really upset me because I was seeing people doing my passion that I wanted to do. And, and I had to take a step back. But then when I got in, like obviously I could pick the phone up again and go back on. And I think why it's my pay i got i actually got asked this quite recently, I think why my page has grown is because a lot of people can relate to it. It's it's raw, it's real I am it's, it's a first hand insight. And it also shows where I didn't get in. And then I did get in. And a lot of students don't start their page until after they get accepted. Now I didn't do that purposely, it's just the way it so happened. And but I've always had an interest in social media, I've always had an interest in that kind of world. I think maybe if I wasn't a teacher, or going to be a teacher, and I'd say I would have fallen into working maybe for a company on their social media platforms or something on the lines or something like that.
Yeah, and I'm just again, for some, some background here for the listeners. Haley's Instagram platform is @TheTeacherStudent. And she is very, very close to 10,000 followers, like, very, very close to 10,000. So if you're interested in in checking out what Haley does, and that, like she said, how real and how raw she is, definitely go give her a like and a follow and, and see what she does. But I love watching. It's so funny, because I'll sit here and I'll watch every single one of your little bits when you go from, you know, on your stories, one to the other. Because I'm waiting, I'm waiting to say like, what is that nugget of wisdom that Hayley is going to give next, and, you know, you'll be you'll be seeing her like cutting out some of her resources right there and showing people how she puts together some of her ideas and resources and your you share very willingly and very openly and very freely as far as like what your resources are. what works, what doesn't, um, you know, you've been on there. I remember as you were preparing for placement, watching you, you came on and you did a one of your reels, you showed all the different outfits you were planning to wear. Yeah. on placement, you did a little placement fashion show. And, and I and again, I think that that's something that teachers who are an you know, those who are going through the same process as you, or just starting really appreciate, you know,
Absolutely, but even like the accounts that I have been watching that are six months ahead of me or a year ahead of me or what, two years ahead of me, it sets me up mentally about like what I'm about to to achieve, or what am I about to do? Like, for me, like when I started the Masters, like I'm working my way up to the school first school placement, you know, that's where you're at in the classroom. And now that that's over, I'm a bit nuts. I'm a bit confused or lost in terms of where I'm heading, like overall, but I'm a bit confused, because I'm like, Oh, God, I didn't think I didn't think much about it until now. Like it was more I was more thinking all the way up until school placement, school placements now happened. And it's like, what's happening now?
So you just need to you just need a minute or two to collect yourself and find out what's you know, you it is interesting, because you always put up, you know, q&a boxes, and you always get a plethora of questions people are always asking you they're very curious. Yeah. Did you imagine gaining such a following?
No, I actually didn't. And it's weird. I like I like I I love other people that follow me. And like people do reach out and message. And for the most part, everyone's just so pleasant and polite. I just don't know. Like, I'm I'm no expert. And I always say that I actually have no idea. I have no problem saying I don't know. I am. And I think some for some people that can be quite difficult, I think to do say I actually don't know, like, maybe I'll tag an account that might know and then maybe they'll repost and they'll be able to answer the question. I think it's just about helping each other. And I think especially my page might have grown because all of us were working from home or studying from home and we haven't had the opportunity to meet in person. And I remember when I got accepted into the course I remember some pages had posted things like, Well, when I was doing my PME I wasn't able to run like an Instagram account inside. Well, when you were doing your PME things were open and you could actually go to the bar and you could go and Have a dance. Whereas with us, it's like, this is it. Like, this is our social life, we don't have the opportunity to meet in person, there's so many people in my course I have not met, I have not met my lectures haven't met anyone, I'm never got a formal induction because that just wasn't possible because of COVID. So hopefully now in the next year, I will be able to experience that, but I think because we were all at home, we're all on our phones. And that was our that was our safety net. That was where we could go. Um, you know, apart from the, you know, the online like actual lecturing interactions, the social media, that was where, like, the, I suppose the social life or the phone was,
yeah, and you know, you're essentially, you know, they talk about COVID babies and how COVID babies are learning to cope with, you know, being out on the streets, and actually kind of seeing people's faces every now and then and looking at, you know, small crowds of people and you know, your your initial Teacher Education COVID Baby, you started your journey during this and it's gonna be very interesting when, you know, when your lectures like me are not just a disembodied sort of head and shoulders. And, you know, we become real people for you. But
I know, and its funny, because I have met the odd few in my class, and the first thing I'm like, Oh, my God, you're, like, weird. Like, even one of the days I was actually down in, I was in bottlers, I was getting my coffee. And obviously, we're all wearing masks. And I was getting a phone call from when the guys my class, and I was like, I was actually on the phone to my other friends. I said, Sorry, one of the guys in my class trying to call me and he doesn't call me often. Like, he doesn't call me at all. And I, I was like, sorry, I just have to go, I need to take this. And I took the call. And they're like, oh, Haley, I'm in the I'm in the line. I'm looking at you. And it's like, oh, no way. Like, isn't that mad, though? Like, we didn't we couldn't tell because of the face masks? And so I'll just awkward and there was no, yeah, it's just, it was just one of those freaky things. But yeah
so, um, Voltaire has this great saying that and it's one that everybody knows that with great power comes great responsibility. What do you envisage for your Instagram platform to be for others.
And I suppose it should be a place where they're not overwhelmed with information, I think there's so much information online that can be so overwhelming. I know myself when I read a post, and it's just so much information, it's not broken down visually. And like I don't want I don't want people to come onto my page and read something and get really stressed out and then have to, like, click off, like, I don't, I don't want anyone feeling ever stressed or overwhelmed, and they can't break it down. So you know, I think some some posts can sometimes be too wordy, or there's too much going on. And I don't know what I'm looking at, I can't read that entire thing. And, like, I like things spaced out and broken down. And I hopefully when people go onto my page, they feel like they can they can breathe and they can they can put that like, at their leisure, they can, they can scroll,
and you are definitely living your experience. On Instagram, you know, your spirit experience of initial teacher education, you're living the PME, you know, up close and in real time for for others, again, who might be a bit behind, or those who might be a bit ahead. And, you know, and then there is that, that, that that sense of belonging and that sense of community that I think that you're that you're creating there. So I know you said earlier, some you know, some people say, you know, I would have never been able to do Instagram, how do you manage? What does Haley do to be able to manage your student workload and your and also your positive and encouraging engagement on Instagram? Well,
I think it's fair to say that I haven't been working up until this point, I took a break after working for three years straight. I wasn't working. And I think that's very clear. Like that's very important to note, because I wasn't, I wasn't sobering schools were closed. I wasn't, you know, I was fully focused on my studies. So, you know, we couldn't go anywhere. So I did have all this time that I could put into my Instagram page. So that's actually something I'm gonna have to learn Shelli Ann over the next over the next few weeks now, me starting to sob. And me trying to focus my balance my Instagram, and am I going to be able to post as frequently I might want to be able to come on as frequently, like, I know, I did explicitly mentioned that on school placement that I was taking a step back, and I did take a step back. And it's just, you know, just waiting and watch how to take my time for myself in the evening. Even with that, like that was even hard to fit in, you know, so that's going to be something that I'm going to have to figure out, you know,
and I think I'm sure that you're going to do it with grace and He is, and again, a very positive attitude and a big smile on your face as you, you know, you might stumble here and there, but there's always that big smile on your face. What kinds of things do you like to do for Haley? So to manage your own wellness and your sense of well being, being that you are a PME COVID Baby, you know, what are some things that you've been doing to manage your own wellness,
um, I go for a coffee, that was my outing every day, with my dad, the two of us we go down now he wouldn't get a coffee, but he came with me. And it was just kind of that quality, you know, family time. And as well as I try to go out for my walk, I'm very religious, with my watch on my, on my wrist, and I count my steps, I was making sure I was getting my exercise. And I suppose making sure that I call my friends frequently, that really helped just not only were like the, you know, getting through that difficult time, but also, you know, just making sure that everyone is okay, and, you know, hearing how their day went, that was different to yours, because I, you know, looking at the four walls around you, you can start to go a bit mad. And I'm trying to think like, what else they do, like, just making sure like, I set up my own desk space that was really important to me at the start of the PME, which is really important that I had somewhere to go. And then when I'm not at the desk, I'm not working. And, you know, to that, so that was something that I did for me where I could, you know, manage that like studying and life like it, you know, two separate places that I can go to. And it's actually funny, Shelli because I did my degree in geography and sociology. So when you say things like community sense of belonging, all this comes back to me and I'm like, you know, other identity and maybe like, like, what's Goffman?
Yeah.
He talks about like front stage backstage. And, you know, you know, it's not always plain sailing. That's the other thing about Instagram. It's not always like, you don't know what's actually going on in someone's life. So it's always important to be kind as well.
Yep, absolutely. Good point there. There. There's a bit of that responsibility there. Yeah. So we're now at the point in our conversation, when I always like to ask my guests to sit to share some resources, some links or book recommendations that can be helpful for anyone that's interested maybe in volunteering or getting starting in surviving their own PME journey, or becoming a social vlogger? Or influencer? do you have? Do you have any resources that that you can think of that you'd like to share?
resources? Um, let me think, well, I would recommend if anyone ever wanted to start get an experience with working with children, and they don't know where to look. And I would look at the Irish Girl Guides or scouting Ireland, I'd look at those two organisations and see, you know what, that'd be something that maybe you could do even on a monthly basis. And that's number one, number two. And what I'd say is, if you are looking to, like do, so I get asked this actually quite a lot. Like I'm, people say to me, oh, well, I'm 30 now, and you know, I want to be a primary school teacher, but I'm afraid I'm going to be too old. You know, and I say to them, but how old? Are you going to be in two years? And they're like, well, I'm going to be 32. And I say, Well, what are you going to be doing in two years time? Well, I'm going to be still doing what I'm doing, I'm still going to be unhappy. And it's like, well, you know, whether you want to admit it or not, you're still you're going to age. And what's important is your happiness. What's important is that you're passionate, and you're happy about what you're doing. So regardless of your age, who actually cares, doesn't matter how old you are, once you're happy, and you're doing what you want to do, where you want to make a difference. So what I say to those people is number one, you know, especially in the college I'm in, there's so many students of all different ages that I would never let age make you turn you down, because I you know, myself, I had those thoughts. I'm like, Oh, God, you know, I'm 25. Now, I'm going to be this age. And they said, it just it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what age you are. You can change career whenever whenever you want. And whenever you feel, and and that's okay to note. And so I would say that I don't even know if that's a resource. But that's just a point that had to make. You know, I just had to make that point, because it's so like, I think we can all get bogged down by that. Like, it's all this hypothetical stuff that we're making in our head. But the reality of the fact is, you have to live in the moment and you have to do what's right for you. Yeah, I'm gonna age regardless, that's just life
times gonna keep on marching forward. So either march forward in the same place that you are, like you said, and be unhappy. You said it beautifully. I'm not even going to repeat it because the beauty in which you said it. So I Haley you again, I know that everybody who's listening is going to say, you know, they they're all going to hear the same thing. You're full of joy and in positivity, and it really is infectious. I actually think that you could even be more contagious than COVID. That's my thought, that is what I believe.
I feel flattered. Because when you hear these things about yourself, like, I'm like, really, like, shut out, because I see people like that, you know, in my life, and I'm like, God, you know, they're so full of energy, or they're so full of happiness. And I feed off that. So, you know, for everyone, like, I think there's always going to be people that make you feel good. And what I will say is like, and I know this is this is a new kind of thing, sorry, now Shelli Ann, I might go on a little bit of a tangent. However, I think, especially with social media now and we're spending so much time online and I know lockdowns are lifting but in some parts of the world are not. And I think it's really important to follow cancer to make you feel good, and that do inspire you and make you feel productive. You know, it's there's no point going onto some page that makes you feel down and unhappy. And I think that's, that's really important for your own health and your well being and for your own productivity as well.
Yeah, absolutely. I agree with you. 100 100%. So do you have listened these past five minutes, I think you have given so many nuggets of wisdom. But I'm just gonna say one more time, I'm going to ask you, do you have any final words of inspiration or encouragement that you might want to share with those who have been listening? Again, maybe somebody who's, you know, thinking about stepping into this journey, somebody who's thinking about volunteering somebody who's thinking about, you know, becoming a teacher or or anything like that? Do you have any final words of wisdom?
Ehm, I'd say, don't let the fear of it frighten you or don't let don't think that you're not good enough? Because I know, for some people, they might think, Oh, well, I'll never be like this, or I'll never be like that. But you're good at you. So don't let, don't let that stop you. And it's always going to be a process and we're always learning. Like, I've often thought, well, I changed my Instagram name after after I finished the PMA, from the teacher, student, but we're all students in our own way. We're all always learning. So don't ever feel that you'll never be good enough or that you? You won't. You won't get there because there is no get there. You're always going to be working on it.
Yep, that's right. Life. Learning is lifelong. Never stop. Right? Yes. Haley, it has been an absolute pleasure spending this near an hour with you having a chat and, and I've really enjoyed the conversation. And thank you so much. And I do look forward to seeing and hearing from you again in the future to see where you are in your journey. And again, everybody who's listening, if you want to check out and see Haley up close and personal, definitely get on Instagram and go find at the teacher student. And you will find Haley going through her lived experience in real time her journey through the PME Thank you so much, Haley.
Thanks for having me, Shelli Ann. I loved it.
Me too.
I hope that you've enjoyed this discussion on a dash of salt, a space where you'll always find fresh and current discussions on society and learning today. Season with just the right touch of experts in education and a dash of sociological imagination. Please be sure to like and share this episode. And don't forget to subscribe to a dash of salt on pod bean so that you don't miss the next episode. Thanks so much and we'll chat again soon.