Gavin Khan is currently a lecturer at The University of Adelaide in ...
Gavin Khan is currently a lecturer at The University of Adelaide in ...
Gavin Khan is currently a lecturer at The University of Adelaide in ...
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<strong>Gav<strong>in</strong></strong> <strong>Khan</strong> Belief <strong>in</strong> the MagicWhen I was about 21, I was young, passion<strong>at</strong>e and very brash <strong>in</strong> manyways. <strong>The</strong>re’s still a degree <strong>of</strong> th<strong>at</strong> <strong>in</strong> me now <strong>at</strong> almost 40 years <strong>of</strong> age. Ith<strong>in</strong>k hav<strong>in</strong>g a real v<strong>is</strong>ion or a strong‐held belief th<strong>at</strong> there <strong>is</strong> justice, th<strong>at</strong>there <strong>is</strong> someth<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>at</strong> we can strive for, <strong>is</strong> really important. At 21 I alsohad a real belief th<strong>at</strong> I could change the world. I th<strong>in</strong>k I still hold th<strong>at</strong>. Ido have an ability to play a part <strong>in</strong> chang<strong>in</strong>g the world for the better, andth<strong>at</strong>’s someth<strong>in</strong>g I really believed <strong>in</strong>. In some ways th<strong>at</strong> 21 year old wasprobably a little bit all over the place, but th<strong>at</strong>’s okay. I’ve accepted whoand wh<strong>at</strong> I was then. <strong>The</strong> beauty <strong>of</strong> grow<strong>in</strong>g older <strong>is</strong> <strong>in</strong> the learn<strong>in</strong>g andd<strong>is</strong>coveries th<strong>at</strong> take place and the amazement about the world and people<strong>in</strong> it. I didn’t always appreci<strong>at</strong>e th<strong>at</strong> the world wasn’t as bad a place as Ithought it was back then.Back then, I didn’t want to take many r<strong>is</strong>ks because I believed more<strong>in</strong> the ‘life script’. I l<strong>is</strong>tened and abided by the script th<strong>at</strong> was written byothers, probably to my detriment. So my encouragement to anyone else <strong>is</strong>th<strong>at</strong> you don’t have to always play the role <strong>in</strong> the play, <strong>in</strong> the script th<strong>at</strong>’sbeen written by others. Th<strong>at</strong> <strong>in</strong>cludes your family, your cultural group oryour community or wh<strong>at</strong>’s based upon a h<strong>is</strong>tory.Wh<strong>at</strong> are the th<strong>in</strong>gs th<strong>at</strong> I am proud <strong>of</strong>? I’m most proud <strong>of</strong> my nieceand nephew. And myself? I th<strong>in</strong>k I’ve stuck <strong>in</strong> there <strong>at</strong> times when th<strong>in</strong>gswere really challeng<strong>in</strong>g. But I’m still here and I’m still with<strong>in</strong> the pr<strong>of</strong>essionth<strong>at</strong> I love and th<strong>at</strong>’s teach<strong>in</strong>g — gett<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>is</strong> far and still be<strong>in</strong>g able tosmile and laugh and to have hope and have a belief <strong>in</strong> the magic <strong>of</strong> kidsand teach<strong>in</strong>g. Someth<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>at</strong> I’m also proud <strong>of</strong> <strong>is</strong> th<strong>at</strong> I’ve not resignedfrom the Department. <strong>The</strong>re were many times th<strong>at</strong> I filled <strong>in</strong> a resign<strong>at</strong>ionform, but I’m still here, I’m still kick<strong>in</strong>g, I’ve still got a job.Never underestim<strong>at</strong>e the goodness and generosity <strong>of</strong> people. I th<strong>in</strong>k it’simportant to believe <strong>in</strong> yourself and to be yourself, and value and celebr<strong>at</strong>e33
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