Finding the passion to teach

Kumar, who studied a Bachelor of Education (Primary and Early Childhood) at RMIT, says she has always been passionate for the education of children of any age.

“The process of transferring my knowledge and gaining more from our next generation leaders definitely inspired me to study teaching,” she says.

“Teaching is considered a rewarding career as it can serve as a foundation for the development of children in any form.”

For Kumar, it’s important to be a good teacher who has faith in her students and is committed to the practice of changing lives through education.

Contrary to popular belief, she says, the success of a teacher is not attributed to the style of their teaching, but rather their dedication.

“Teachers are believers who send strong messages through their words and actions which thereby make a huge difference in learning.”

“A good teacher requires teaching skills which includes prompting their students to love learning, being a good role model and inspiring students to face new challenges,” Kumar says.

RMIT helped the alumna make her first step to becoming an admirable teacher, thanks to the university’s prominent reputation in the education sector.

While Kumar learned the ins and outs of teaching during her lectures and internships, she cites RMIT’s student-led Beginning Teachers’ Conference as a highlight in her studies.

“The Beginning Teachers’ Conference is a great stepping stone and motivates all final year RMIT education students to attend more educational seminars,” she says.

“You have the opportunity to learn about management skills and curriculum design from leading principals and teachers from various Victorian primary schools.”

Besides being equipped with fundamental teaching skills, Kumar says RMIT has also taught her a valuable life lesson in taking initiative, rather than leaving chances to the last minute.

“Completing pre-workshop tasks before tutorials, researching and having good time management skills are essential for achieving the best outcome, both in and out of the classroom.”

With an education degree from RMIT and six years of experience in the childcare sector under her belt, Kumar hopes to spread the importance of education outside Melbourne’s borders.

“Becoming a Kindergarten teacher is my dream. If an opportunity arises, l want to move to Darwin and teach primary school students in the later years, before heading back to Singapore and teaching at the Australian International School,” she says.

“Teaching is a career required world-wide and it is a great opportunity for one to learn other cultures and discover new teaching pedagogies.”

And for those who are considering the path to education, Kumar reminds them that good teachers must have good intentions at heart.

“If you would like to make a positive change in a child’s life, teaching is the right path for you!”

Story: Jennifer Park