Laura S Matthewman

Age at time of shift

25

Gender

Female

Education level

Graduate

Universities attended

Southampton and Roehampton - PGCE Course

Shifted from

Manager of a Dressmaking Shop

Location

London

Salary

£20,000-£30,000

Years in old career

4

Shifted to

Teacher

Location

London

Salary

£20,000-£30,000

Years in new career

1

Year of shift

2005

What was your role in your old job?

I was the manager of a busy shop in SW London. I sold sewing machines and sewing accessories. In addition to this I taught sewing courses and clubs, did alterations, organised our course schedule and had part responsibility for dealing with the accounts.

What is/are your new role(s)?

Class teacher of 30 children in a primary school.

Why did you change?

My job as shop manager was something I got into as a temporary position when I left university as I didn't know what i really wanted to do. I became absorbed in the job and several years went by before I took the time to think about what I really wanted and enjoyed doing.
I wasn't fulfilled by my job in the shop anymore and realised that what excited me the most was the teaching aspect. I have also always enjoyed working with children so I decided to make the change.

Are you happy with the change?

Convinced it was the right thing to do despite the soul destroying hard year it took to get my PGCE. I love teaching.
Every day is totally different and full of new challenges. And you meet some amazingly inspiring little individuals along the way.

What do you miss and what don't you miss?

I miss being paid more and not having to work at home in the evenings.

How did you go about making the change?

Applied to UCAS and went for interviews before being offered a place to do the PGCE.

What was the most difficult thing about changing?

Being a poor student again. The hardest thing was the course itself, but I never had regrets about making the change.

What help did you get?

None, except slight financial support from the government.

What have you learnt in the process?

Where do I begin! Aside from how to teach young children, I've learnt that life is nothing without facing challenges and overcoming them. I've learnt that it is never too late to change the direction your life is going in, and that taking a risk is both exhilarating and enlightening.
It reminds you of what you want and what you value in life.

What do you wish you'd done differently?

Nothing.

What would you advise others to do in the same situation?

Go for it! Life is not about 'what if's?', but about saying "I did it!"...even if you then add "And it wasn’t for me so I tried pole dancing next..."