A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to head to Sydney and complete my
Certificate III in Screen and Media. I did this as part of my training to be a fully
qualified Screen and Media teacher – you have to hold the qualification that you’re
teaching (if that makes sense). It was a fantastic experience – exciting,
challenging, creative and, at times, quite overwhelming! Spending two weeks
immersed in learning new skills gave me a fresh perspective, not only on the
world of film and media, but also on what it feels like to be a student again. Plus I
got to go to State of Origin, so it was pretty fun!
The course covered a huge range of areas including filming, editing, production
planning, sound, lighting and storytelling. Every day involved learning unfamiliar
terminology, taking in new information quickly and trying to apply practical skills
on the spot. There were moments where I felt confident and capable and other
moments where I felt completely out of my depth. In many ways it reminded me
exactly what our students experience every single day in classrooms across the
school.
One of the biggest things I took away from the experience was a renewed
appreciation for the effort students put into their learning. Being a student again
reminded me how tiring it can be to stay focused for long periods of time, process
lots of information, work collaboratively with others, meet deadlines and continue
persevering when things don’t immediately make sense. It is a lot! Our students
juggle these demands every day while also balancing sport, friendships, family
life, homework and extracurricular activities.
At the same time, there was something incredibly rewarding about stepping
outside my comfort zone and learning something new. It reminded me that
learning should never stop once we leave school or university. Lifelong learning
keeps us curious about the world around us. It challenges us to think differently,
develop new skills and remain open to new opportunities and experiences.
As teachers, we often encourage students to embrace challenges, make mistakes
and keep improving. Being a learner again was a good reminder that growth
rarely happens when things are easy. Sometimes the best thing we can do is put
ourselves in situations where we don’t have all the answers yet.
I hope our students understand that learning is not simply about passing tests or
completing assignments. It is about developing curiosity, resilience and a
willingness to keep growing throughout life. Whether we are learning algebra,
analysing Shakespeare, filming a short movie or picking up a completely new skill
later in life, there is always value in remaining teachable.
So my encouragement to everyone in our school community is simple. You’ll
always keep growing old, but you’re never too old to grow.
Greg