Diana Greenhill

 

....I am 36 years old. I am a wife and a mother. I live in the western suburbs of Sydney and I am a first generation Australian of Italian parents. I am married to a wonderful supportive man who I am very proud to say, has an Aboriginal background.

I currently work in the Finance Industry as an Operational Risk Officer and have worked in this industry for the past 15 years. However, I did not choose this industry as my profession of choice, it chose me. 

I have always wanted to be a Primary School teacher. My passion to become a teacher started when I was five years old and walked into my classroom for the very first time. I was in awe of the teacher, the pictures on the wall, the blackboard, the chalk, the books on the book shelf, the activity corner and the entire classroom.

My favourite game as a child was playing 'schools'. I would set my two younger sisters up with books and pencils and teach them the alphabet and how to count. I remember teaching my youngest sister who was 3 years old how to say the entire alphabet and I would show this off to every adult at every available moment. I was so proud of her and myself as well.

I converted all our golden books into library books, with little sleeves inside for the library card to go in. I would issue my sisters with library cards and have them borrow books. I still come accross my old childrens books and find these little sleeves still in them! It it the remnents of what I wanted to be when I grew up.

In my senior years of high school I made my intentions to become a teacher very clear to my teachers. My teachers were very supportive and would invite me along to professional development days. I thouroughly enjoyed this and new I had to achieve the right marks in my HSC to be accepted into University.  I was accepted into the Charles Sturt University Bathurst which is three hours away from my home. This meant that I had to live on campus and had to rely on my parents to pay my accomodation. Unfortunaly my parents seperated during this time and I had to come back to Sydney. I was devestated and did not go back to University. I landed a job in the finance industry where I still work to this day.

After having my son in 2007, my passion to become a teacher has reignited. I find myself treating him the same way I did my sisters. I play 'schools' with him all the time and constantly find joy in teaching him everything.

After speakind to an old school friend, I discovered that I could obtain a teaching degree through Open Universities in an online environment. I have been given a second chance at achieving my dream as the option to study online fits in perfectly with my current lifestyle as a mother, wife and employee. I feel so blessed to have been given a second chance to achieve my dream. I will become a Primary School teacher and I intend to be a valuable member of the education community.​

 

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