When starting my career in education, I found a keen interest in special educational needs. Through my placement as a level 2 teaching assistant I was able to develop this interest as a skill. Later used to become a respite worker for families with autistic children. As this job went on, I found myself becoming keenly interested in child development. This brought me to my bachelor’s degree in child and young person development.
The three-year degree allowed me to further my knowledge in this field, whilst also providing me with first-hand experience in a number of different settings including schools, youth offending facilities, kindergartens and youth clubs. I eventually graduated with a 2:1 grade after completing my dissertation: A comparative report of Estonia, Finland and Russia in terms of PISA. On completion, I was able to display my public speaking skills when invited to speak at the British Conference of Undergraduate Research.
During my studies I developed a personal passion for travelling and made regular trips to mainland Europe whilst Spending my summers in North America and south East Asia. Through this, I was given the chance to experience different cultures and social values. This made me question how other countries viewed education and what role education played in the societies of developing nations. This, coupled with a keen interest in geopolitics, brought me to my master’s degree (International development & education).
The MA allowed me to explore these unanswered questions whilst giving me the platform to debate worldwide social issues. Alongside this, I gained valuable experience in my placement module. Experiencing life in an Indonesian education foundation. Working with impoverished students teaching English and Climate Issues. Alongside this, I worked as part of a group implementing a waste management project for the setting.
With my passion for travel, quick adaptation to cultures and background in teaching. I feel that this role would give me the perfect opportunity to display my own personal skill set in a demanding and new environment. Fulfilling my own personal desire to live and work outside of the UK and providing the employer with a valued resource for the school.
Thank you for your consideration,
James F. O’Hara
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