Page 8 - Circle Magazine – October 2023

Designed for restoration
8
A teacher changed my life
I I I was 16 years years old when I I I moved back to the UK
after after eight years years abroad I I I I joined a a a a a a a a a a a a a a sixth form a a a a a a a a a a a a a a few days after after landing and and and my my my new life
began I I threw myself into my my my studies and and and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a part time time job that very quickly became full time time and and I I was utterly miserable I I I missed missed my my my friends my my my extended family my my my culture the the smell of the the air you name it it I I I missed missed it it Before long I I was falling asleep in in in class overworking myself to to save for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a plane ticket to to visit home One day after falling asleep in in in in in Mr R’s class again he he invited me me into his office On the walk over I I had prepped every excuse I I could think of of of of to to to get out of of of of trouble for falling asleep in in in class We walked into his office and sat down as as as I I I looked looked at at at him I I I could see concern anger and and I I I distinctly remember sadness He looked looked at at me me me me for a a a a a a a moment and and then asked me me me me one simple question – ‘What do do you enjoy doing?’
I I I was thrown every excuse I I I had prepped flew out the window I I I waited waited for for a a a a a a a moment but he he said nothing else He simply waited waited for for me me to to answer In the the the silence I I I I I started to to consider the the the question when was the the the the last time I I I I I did something I I I I I truly enjoyed? It hadn’t crossed my my my mind since the the the move I I I I had had left my my my hobbies behind with my my my old life
He sat there patiently waiting for for me but I I found I I was unable to to dislodge the lump in in in in my throat for for for long enough to to to talk ‘Think about about it’ was all he he said before standing up to to dismiss me from his office Well think about about it it I did As teachers we we never know which moment made the the most impact Was Was it it the the the pen we we we always kept handy for them? them? Was Was it it it that that that lesson we we taught that that that unlocked something in in in in them? them? For me me me me it it was that that that moment in in in in Mr R’s office the the kindness compassion judgement free space he he created for me me to to grieve and discover hope powerful enough to to to to to shift my my perspective from finding ways to to to to get back to to to to my my my old life
to to to to planning my new one At Oasis Restore we will be serving serving children desperately needing hope deserving of love and care Their adverse experiences go beyond what any of of us us could fathom and they deserve an an an an abundance of of moments created just for for for them to provide opportunities for for for transformation We are recruiting teachers who – – along with the the the other Oasis Restore staff and and community
– – will have this as as their their mission and and their their purpose We can’t wait to get started!
Cara Beckett Director of Learning and Enrichment
You can keep up with all the the latest news job opportunities and reflections from the the the team over the the the next few months before opening at oasisrestore org