Chronicle

The PASCAL ChroniclePROFILEInterview with Mrs Nectaria Hadgisergis,House Coordinator and English TeacherQ: Why did you become a teacher and chose English asyour subject?A: I wanted to become a teacher from the age of 5. I used todress as a teacher and use my younger sister as a student. Thiscontinued for many years but the official decision came when Iwas in the 6 th form and I was inspired by my English literatureteacher. It then occurred to me that I wanted to be like him andhopefully one day have a similar effect on my students.Q: Why did you want to become House Coordinator?A: I’m a very strong believer in the importance of developing thecreative side to one’s character. I also believe that high school isthe place where children develop into unique individuals and thiscan only be accomplished if they’re given the opportunity to explore,develop and grow. That’s why as a House Coordinator myaim is to give students this opportunity and allow them to trulydevelop.Q: What is your favourite aspect of your job?A: My favourite aspect is the interactions I have with young people which keeps me young and makes me feel that I have apurpose.Q: What is your least favourite aspect of your job?A: Calculating marks and all the administrative paperwork! [Laughs]Q: How do you see yourself in 10years?A: Definitely still teaching and probably very stressed out and desperate since my sons will be teenagers and you know whatthat means!![Laughs]Q: Does your profession provide you as much time as you would like tospend on yourself and your family?A: No. It is a job that you take home with you.Q: What is your favourite hobby?A: I don’t have a lot of free time but I love writing, reading and acting.Q: Do you tend to keep in touch with previous graduates?A: Yes, some of them. Mostly this happens in the first couple of years after theygraduate but in some special cases there are one or two students who are still intouch after six or seven years. Nc-aaad-Q: If there is a student who is very strong academically but continuouslymisbehaves, how do you handle it?A: I would treat him/her exactly the same as I would treat any other student. Sofirstly I would try to speak to the student and get him or her to understand the problemand if this fails I would follow the school procedures.Q: What is, in your opinion, the most important trait a teacher should have?A: Passion for their subject. A true love for their subject they teach which is so much a part of them that they cannot help butwant to share it with others. However, this would be useless if a teacher did not have communicative skills, patience and understandingof young people.Q: Can a student affect your life?A: strictly speaking, in order to be a professional in any job, your work should not affect your personal life. But given my verysensitive nature and the fact that I work with people, my answer is yes a student can affect my life.Q: As a teacher to your students, what would be the most honest and helpful advice you would give?A: As a teacher a piece of advice I would give a student would be focusing on education and learning which is something thatwill always play great role in their life and should not be neglected. But as a person my advice to them would be to explore lifeand every aspect of it, in this way opening their minds and enjoying it at the same time.12Tatiana Griva- IB1