History and international relations student, Ryan, had always planned on becoming a teacher. What he didn’t expect was the pathway he would take to get there.
Up until Year 11, Ryan’s plan had been to go to uni, complete a Bachelor of Education and then move into teaching as a career. Or so he thought…
That plan changed when Ryan signed up to study Modern History in high school and fell in love with the multi-faceted perspectives he encountered. Ryan quickly became fascinated with how delving into the past revealed so much about how the world was, and how it is now.
From there, Ryan decided to pursue studying history with the hopes of going on to teach high school history classes. International relations was a later addition, with Ryan expanding his degree to a double major after noticing the interconnectedness between the two study areas.
“My degree allows me to look at how the world works, and what factors influence it… History is not black and white – there are so many sides to the story. Even what I learnt at high school wasn’t the full story.”
The highlight of Ryan’s time at uni so far has been the discussions he’s had with people in his tutorial classes. He says though it can be confronting to talk to others from various backgrounds and have your own personal biases challenged, the overall experience has been fulfilling.
Having grown up primarily in the towns of Albany and Narrogin, Ryan had never been to Perth prior to moving for his studies. Living in Perth without his family has certainly been a challenge, but one Ryan has enjoyed.
“There are vast differences between country and city living. Even the slang is different!”
Now, Ryan helps other regional high school students explore Perth for the first time through volunteering as an AHEAD mentor. Through the annual AHEAD in Confidence Camp, regional students like Ryan himself travel to Perth to consider the pathways — university, TAFE or otherwise — available to them once they graduate high school. To Ryan, AHEAD is a program that empowers students to make informed decisions about their future, regardless of certain geographical or financial disadvantages they may face.
Though Ryan enjoys the convenience of living in the city, not everything has been easy. Working up to 80 hours a week along with juggling his full-time studies, Ryan found that he wasn’t giving his studies the time and attention they deserved. To help shift his focus back to his degree, Ryan plans to reduce his work hours next year, as well as write detailed to-do lists to keep him on track.
Over his time at uni, Ryan says that his biggest takeaway has been to live in the moment.
“Don’t focus on being happy once you have your degree. Stop putting off your own happiness… Enjoy the opportunities you have now.”
In the future, Ryan sees himself leading a class of students, encouraging them to learn about the past and to fall in love with history as much as he has.
“It’s all about finding the balance between teaching [students] what they need to know and cultivating it as a passion… Teachers that connect with their students really change their lives.”
Written by creative writing and professional writing and publishing student, Abbey Carson.
