✨ Your Integration Bestie ✨

I haven’t really talked much about my life as a high school teacher. Honestly? It’s a bit like being on a fast-moving train—constantly in motion, always surrounded by people, and barely a moment to catch your breath. I love working with people, but as an introvert, that much interaction means that by the time I get home, all I want is silence, tea, and a mental Ctrl + Alt + Delete on every “teaching tab” in my brain 😬

But recently, I’ve been thinking about sharing this part of my life a little more. Especially for those of you who’ve ever wondered what it’s actually like to teach at an international school—or those who (like I once did) are dreaming about it, but aren’t quite sure how to get there.

So, consider this the start of a new chapter in my blog: a little window into my teacher life.

Let’s begin at the beginning ✨

The Beginning

Most people don’t know this, but I’m secondary trained. I completed a Master’s in Secondary Education in Melbourne and spent around five years teaching in that space—mainly working with teenagers (yes, voluntarily!).

From the beginning, I carried a quiet dream: to one day teach internationally, specifically at an international school in Europe, teaching the International Baccalaureate (IB) — often regarded as one of the most prestigious curricula worldwide.

I also pictured myself strolling through cobbled streets after class, sipping coffee in a cozy cafe, marking essays while church bells chimed softly in the background. (Okay, I did get to experience that once during a teaching placement in Italy while doing my Master’s, but now that I’m a full-time IB teacher, I can honestly say, looking back, I was young and VERY naive). 

Romantic? Absolutely. But it wasn’t just about the aesthetic. I craved a slower, more culturally immersive rhythm of life – one where I could teach, yes, but also live more curiously and expansively. I thrive in places where we aren’t defined by national borders – where students (and staff) are a mix of everything and everywhere.

The Search (and the Setbacks)

In 2019, I decided to take the dream seriously. I signed up with a recruitment agency, built my application, and hit “send” on dozens of emails.

I was hopeful. Eager. Maybe a little naive.

And there were some bright spots: interviews with schools in Norway, Switzerland, and Romania. But the feedback was always the same:

“We love your energy, but we’ve chosen someone with extensive IB experience.”

It was frustrating. I had the qualifications. I had the classroom experience. But not the exact boxes they were looking to tick.

I also got offers from schools in Asia and Africa, but my heart wasn’t in it. I didn’t want to compromise just for the sake of going abroad. So I paused.

And then… the whole world paused with me.

The Detour

Enter: 2020. A global pandemic. Travel restrictions. Closed borders. Closed schools.

And for me? A dream that suddenly felt like it was floating out of reach.

But here’s something I’ve come to believe:

The detour is part of the story.

During those years, I leaned into something else I loved. I started my own business – another passion that I knew I wanted to pursue at some point. So I did that instead and it ended up being one of the BEST decisions I’ve ever made. I grew in ways I didn’t anticipate. I found new confidence. I built something from scratch.

The Return—and the Surprise

Still, the IB teaching dream never really left me. It just… waited. Quietly.

Fast forward to 2023. I made the decision to move to the Netherlands. I knew that getting a job (and a visa sponsorship) would be the most direct way in. And if I was going to take that step, I wanted it to be towards something I really wanted: teaching at an international school.

And to my surprise, this time, it happened—quickly.

Within less than two months, I received a job offer from a school in Amsterdam. I still remember the moment that email landed in my inbox. I couldn’t believe my eyes, especially considering how my first attempt at this dream was 4 years ago … well, let’s just say, a bit of a disaster.

And this time, It felt like the door had opened out of nowhere. But really, I’d just been slowly walking toward it all along.

The Lesson

If I could go back and speak to the version of me in 2019 – refreshing her inbox for updates, collecting polite rejections, and quietly wondering if this dream just wasn’t in the cards—I’d tell her this:

The timeline isn’t broken just because it doesn’t look the way you thought it would. You’re not behind. You’re becoming.

And if you’re reading this while dreaming of teaching at an international or IB school, and maybe feeling like you’re not qualified enough or that too many doors have closed – please hear me when I say:

You’re not disqualified. You’re just in the middle of your story.

In fact, my experience of running a business actually helped me stand out from other candidates – especially since I was applying for a Business & Economics teacher position. That real-world experience perfectly echoes the IB philosophy of connecting classroom knowledge to real life.

So, what felt like a delay was actually preparation. I just couldn’t see it then.

Now, in 2025, I’m 1.5 years into my International Baccalaureate teaching career here in Europe, living the dream I once thought might never happen ✨ 

If you’ve read this far, thanks for reading 🧡 If this resonated or if you have questions, I’d love to hear from you in the comments. 💌