Hi! My name is Mitch Harrington, and

I never wanted to be a teacher. Let me explain.

Growing up in Yabba North, on a wheat and canola farm, was the best start to life I could have asked for. With a 500-hectare backyard, you can't dream of much more as a kid. Living as a farmer, you have a unique appreciation for the weather and land you live on. This has sparked a profound lifelong interest in geography and outdoor education. Though, I didn’t want to be a teacher.

After finishing high school, I worked full-time, exploring various fields and gaining diverse experiences in the industries of logistics, retail and recruitment. But on a whim, I decided to pack up and leave Australia for the USA. I got a job working at a summer camp in the hills of California, and this experience changed my life. Working with people from all over the world in the most demanding child-care setting imaginable was a turning point that I didn’t know I needed. Helping kids grow out of their comfort zones in a safe and fun environment felt like my calling. But I still didn't want to be a teacher.

Former St Kilda footballer and Resilience Project facilitator, Martin Heppell was a guest on The Imperfects podcast. Listening to this podcast was a frequent occurrence, but this time was different. Martin said something that will stay with me forever. While quoting a student from a workshop he said

“You make me feel like it's okay to be me”

This sentence was the lightbulb moment that finally made me think, “I need to be a teacher”. Within 24 hours I applied to study at La Trobe University to make this make this happen.

We can all think of ‘that one’ teacher that made the biggest difference. It is because they had genuine care that they were able to do this, and now I want to be that teacher who genuinely cares. I want to share my excitement for quality education with the students I teach and pass on my passion for the humanities subjects that I care for so deeply.

Six months into my journey as a pre-service teacher has taught me more about myself than anything, and it has made me kick myself that I hadn't started studying sooner. I can’t wait to start teaching in a field that I am passionate about while helping students find their passions and aspirations. More importantly, I want to help kids understand that it is okay to be themselves and that they are allowed to express themselves in a wide variety of ways.

The journey from a wheat and canola farm to the classroom has been driven by a profound passion for geography and a commitment to inspiring the next generation. I am dedicated to making a lasting impact on my students' lives by nurturing their curiosity and connection to the world around them.

I never wanted to be a teacher, until the day I knew I had to be a teacher.