Julia Van Arkle

Current role: information and communication technology (ICT) teacher
Previous career: software engineer

After taking a career break from her role as a software engineer, Julia decided to enter the teaching profession. "I felt I wanted to do something completely different to what I had been doing previously. So after taking a short break from IT, I started helping out at a local primary school and really enjoyed it. I then found out a bit more about the profession and decided to enrol on a graduate teaching programme."

She has found her previous experience invaluable in her new job. "The knowledge I gained from my first career really comes in useful as I can show students how ICT relates to the real world. And because I have previously worked in industry I'm very aware of how vital ICT is to the modern workplace. I also enjoy showing students the practical elements of what they're learning. So they never have to think 'why am I learning this? I'll never use it.'"

Julia has also found the creativity involved in teaching extremely rewarding. "Teaching really challenges me and pushes me to use all areas of my imagination. I love having to discover new ways of bringing my subject to life, including coming up with practical demonstrations to get an idea across. I just can't imagine going back to an office job now."

When asked how her new role differs from her previous job, Julia says, "Teaching challenges me enormously and I constantly have to use all areas of my imagination which is brilliant. I used to have to be very focused on one particular thing, which could become quite repetitive. However, I find teaching extremely varied and I'm constantly thinking of new ways to express things. Plus, I get to have these hugely rewarding interactions all the time."