Over the next month we are asking various women who are living life of their own terms a series of short questions. The purpose? To highlight that 'success' has a different definition for each and everyone of us, to highlight both our failures and our achievements and to start thinking about how we can each have a positive impact for the future generation....
Torie is 29 and teacher working and living in East London. She has taught in KS2/KS1/EYFS in schools in Hackney and Newham for the past 7 years and is now EYFS Co-ordinator at a school in Hoxton.
What does success mean to you in 3 words?
Smiling every morning.
What’s your biggest achievement?
After working in three different schools since I qualified I am so happy to now be working in a place where I really feel that I belong. As a leader I am encouraged to take risks and implement change and given the freedom and support to do that. I think we are working towards a great goal, which is the best possible education for our children, but as a school community (staff/children/parents) we have defined what that goal looks like. I have worked in a setting that focused solely on 'outcomes' for children (i.e. SATs results) at the cost of the wellbeing of children and staff. Sadly, the more I speak to others in my profession, the more common this has become and I know I am in the minority of teachers. Happy teachers = happy children. Stressed, unhappy teacher = stressed, unhappy children. Obvious, really.
In May 2015 things came to a head and I had to do some real soul searching when I was deciding whether or not to quit my job without another one lined up. (Teachers have to resign by 31st May to end a contract in August.) I felt like I didn't have the mental strength to take the risk as I had other things on my plate at the time (planning my wedding/moving house) but I received two really valuable pieces of advice from two fantastic strong women, a friend and a mentor. 1. Sometimes your plate just has to be really full. 2. What is the worst case scenario? Can you handle that? I decided that I could. I quit my job, felt like the weight of the world had been lifted and have ended up working in school that is a perfect fit for me. That isn't to say I've got the work-life thing figured out just yet, but I'm getting there.
What’s your biggest failure?
Trick question. I initially thought, "I can't think of one, that's good of me....." On reflection, however, surely most of us would struggle to think of a 'failure' as such. One of my biggest disappointments aged 18 was not getting into my first university choice, but of course I would never change that now and I certainly don't regard that as a failure. So, I don't think I have any failures. Failings? Much easier to think of, less easy to share online. So, let's say, exercise. I'm either doing it loads, or not at all. I'd love to find some balance in 2017.
What do you love about yourself most?
I love that I can make people laugh. Though of course typing this is making me cringe beyond belief....(see next question)
Whats’ your biggest insecurity?
....what if they are laughing at me not with me? No. Not really. I know I'm hilarious. I think my biggest insecurity is that I am boring people while we are chatting.
What advice would you give yourself to a woman half your age?
14.5. Hmmm. Do not covet what others have/are. It is poisonous.
What is your biggest concern for The Future Generation and what would you do to change this?
Childhood obesity is a major concern for me. Children from the poorest income families are twice as likely to be obese by the age of 5, and three times as likely by the age of 11. In Hackney we have historically been top of the obesity tables, though we are moving in the right direction now and it is becoming more of a priority. NHS Guidelines suggest that children should be mobile for 180 minutes a day and 60 of those minutes should be vigorous activity. In the Early Years children are constantly on the move so the 'mobile' part isn't so hard but from Year 1 and above we are probably missing those targets by a considerable amount.
Last year I started a running initiative in my Early Years while I was training for a half marathon and now we have the resources to continue that it is something that will be restarting this week. I'm not sure my catchy title of 'Friday Funday Runday' really worked but we'll rebrand! Research shows that the younger we can get children moving and active, the more likely they are to go on to be a healthy weight as adolescents and adults. As well as getting the children moving we have to involve and educate parents as well, so this term we'll be running another parent workshop on getting active.
