SACRIFICING STUDY FOR WORK

As a teacher who became a principal, I desired to complete doctoral studies during my career.

I’ve done or completed several degrees at postgraduate and master levels and was deadset keen to undertake a doctorate.

I was also a school principal and, in that context, became aware that many of my colleagues were taking time off work to complete study programs. Thinking the matter through, I decided it would be far better for me from the viewpoint of my job and my work with children, staff and community not to leave and undertake study because it just seemed unfair to those with whom I was working.

So, I didn’t pursue doctoral studies, and I am not particularly sorry about that. What I had was a full-time professional life, and what I did was spend my time as a principal in my schools. I also worked around the school, teaching children and getting to know them.

How happy I am in retirement to reflect upon my career. Part of that is to be glad that I took the course of action I did and prioritised my work over study.

As a result, I also sacrificed 106 weeks of accumulated sick leave when I retired. Some of my colleagues and others, approaching the end of their working lives, used to take time off for medical reasons and for basically cutting out their sick leave that had accumulated.

To my way of thinking, that was not right, and I was quite happy to sacrifice my 106 weeks of sick leave to stay the course in my school and work with students, community, and staff.

On May 19 2023, I was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for my services to education. I felt ever so proud and humble in receiving that award and feel ever so blessed to have prioritised as I did – even though that meant the sacrifices I have described.

Those sacrifices were nothing compared to the joy and satisfaction I got from my work.