Ever since I was a child I’d dreamt of working in a school. I know most children, at some stage in their short prepubescent years, say the iconic line – “when I grow up, I want to be a teacher” – but for me this was something I was always going to make happen. I’ve always had an affinity for children. They resonate with my soul, and bringing them joy has always made me feel complete. So upon my completion of High School, I ventured into Tertiary Education to pursue my dreams of becoming a teacher.

My teaching career began at the end of 2014, upon completing my Bachelor of Teacher (Primary). However, in the 3-months following my completeion, I was without casual work or Graduate Recruitment offers and “catastrophising the situation” (as my psychologist would say) thought my four years of study had gone to waste (if I’d only waited until the new year). So in early 2015, I enrolled in studying my second passion, writing. I’ve always had, and still do, an overwhelming passion for reading and writing; as words have a way of calming my mind and helping me understand reality. So begun my embarkment into my Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing.

In a change of events, this shift in education managed to get me my first temp gig – as a support teacher for a literacy group and debate team. From then on the casual and temp work rolled in and out of my life, and I managed it all whilst studying.

One early morning, mid-2015, the phone rang. It was the casual organiser for one of my three  relief schools. They wanted me to cover library for a week. Easy, I thought, just re-shelving books and reading to kids. Nothing to it.

Boy, was I wrong.

I had books coming out my ears, a computer system I didn’t understand, students requesting stock that I couldn’t locate, something called “accessioning” to do, and a library program that I couldn’t make hide-nor-hair of (I also had a kinder-class from hell – I kid you not, a swear I saw one twist her head exorcist style). After this stint on library came to an end, I found I had better appreciation for Teacher Librarians and their roles and responsibilities.

In 2016, after obtaining significant chunks of casual work and temp contracts, I held my first contract as the relieving librarian at my current school of employment. I remember the Teacher Librarian I was relieving, explaining to me that being a Teacher Librarian is equal parts teaching to administration duties. In the weeks to come, I was trained in using the OASIS system (which was current at the time, I’m now trained in OLIVER and SCIS), accessioning and “weeding stock, budgeting, catalogue management; as well as, creating a literature rich and engaging environment, and teaching programs that supported literature appreciation, ICT and research procedures.

And that was it. A fire within me was lit. I was going to be a Teacher Librarian.