Yo, I'm FinFin. I graduated in 2020 with an ATAR in the Low 50s. My English Language and History Revolutions scores were 18, aka Bottom 2% in the state, and I didn't get a single study score over 30
And this is the bright child who will someday become a teacher
It's been my dream ever since I was in Primary school to be a teacher. Sure, I might not have the grades for it, but I believe that maybe university learning is more suitable for me, as opposed to the normal high school structure I was so used to.
I still have until my second year to figure out if I want to do Primary or Secondary, so I can't wait to see what I decide on. Only one week until classes start, and I'm ready for it all!!!!!! I'm super keen to meet other excited students like myself who are ready to change the world and benefit our community
Can't wait to also share my journey here too!

Hey FinFin!

As someone who is also interested in doing teaching, I'm super excited to hear about your experience 🙂

Keep us updated! All the very best for the upcoming semester

2 months later

Yo Friends!
I'm well into my second term of uni, and I'm having an incredible time at the moment. My teachers are nice and informative, my study group is helpful and the coursework isn't as bad as I expected.
My marks have been doing very well, way better than I ever was in high school too, and my teachers say I have "a very engaging presentation style"

To anyone who's going into education soon, I recommend doing some volunteer work with schools around your area. They'll usually need it for stuff like Cross Countries, or sports activities, but if you make yourself known as a uni student, you might be helping small children with their reading (Oh, you'll also need a WWCC as well, so get on top of it at the start of the year)

University is much better than I ever anticipated. If you're in Year 12 like I was, you were probably scraping by, and that's ok. We can't all get 99.95, but instead use your ambition for the future as motivation. If you're bad in highschool, it doesn't mean you'll be bad at uni. The setup is pretty different

Fingers crossed the rest of my semester goes well too!

a month later

Hello, sweet friends.
I have officially completed my first semester of university, and I can safely say that I prefer university much, much, MUCH more than high school. The workload is more intense, but there's less of it, and more time to work on it. The work also feels more straightforward and feels connected towards my career goal too. I understand why each class is important for my pathway to become a teacher. And I'm doing well in my uni grades too, which was something I never got the hang of in high school, boosting my confidence and motivation even further.
The university has a lovely feel to it as well. Even though high school has better social networking, you can still meet people at uni through clubs, events, classes and study groups. I found that this term was a bit trickier than the first, but that's natural, considering it's all in the same semester.
I really cannot wait for my new classes next semester, and next year, I'll be able to do electives, and focus on the subjects I want to eventually teach too

    Joseph41
    I've had four classes; Understanding and Planning for Learning, Digital Literacies, Introduction to Literacy and Learning, and How Humans Develop
    I really like Understanding and Planning for Learning, because we get the chance to actually practice designing lesson plans and reflect on our own education. We can also collaborate with second year students, and we get the chance to learn off them too

    a month later

    Yoyoyoyo!
    FinFin's back with some exciting news, today I got my results for my first semester! I feel like I had a great first half to the year, learning loads of things about uni and teaching. Thank goodness I didn't have exams, I'm pretty sure they were behind my scores plummeting in high school. I find exams are hard to truly focus and concentrate, mainly because high school teachers act as if failing an exam means you could never have a job or a successful career, but my friends taking exams at uni say the teachers are pretty chill about them.
    Anyway, I got 2 B marks and 2 C marks, which I'm actually pleased with. Keep in mind, in Year 12, my study score for English and History were 18, which is the bottom 3% of the entire state, so I think that's a pretty good improvement, with one of those Bs being a literacy class.
    Here's hoping for more success for the many years to come!
    (and hoping for no exams in these classes either, lol)

    2 months later

    Bonsoir, my friends! haha
    FinFin is on his mid-semester break, and I'm feeling pretty confident about my time so far. Four classes, Framing Cultural Identities, Numeracy in Education, Understanding Self, Relationships and Life, and Becoming an Ethical Education Professional. I feel that this content is a bit trickier than last terms, but I'm getting it all. One of my biggest downfalls is being able to focus while I'm writing up assignments, but I'm working on ways to focus more on the content. Only 6 weeks until I finish my very first full year at university, and I feel so pleased with myself already. Soon, I'll be able to choose my stream of Primary or Secondary Education, as well as electives for my major and minor subjects
    Hope the last term goes well!

    a month later

    Hey friends!
    I'm in my last week of classes, and currently in the library studying away to finish my last assignments. I don't have any exams this year, but instead I have four assignments that are like 60% of my grade, so no pressure.
    Since I last spoke, I feel like my work has deteriorated slightly. I felt less focused during that time, and always putting off my work until the last few hours, where I would then rush to get it done, however, I have found a solution!
    Yesterday, I woke up at home to discover that we had no internet. I was pretty bothered by this, so I decided to spend an evening in the library and study there.
    To anyone who hasn't tried it there yet, I highly recommend giving library study a shot. You don't have to stay for long, and you can bring friends if you want to. I just feel myself being focused and on point while I'm studying there, despite construction and renovation on the top floor. Being around others who are motivated helps me too.
    My final assignment is due in 9 days... only 2604 words to go... yay
    To all my Year 12 friends, just try your absolute best for the upcoming exams, and if you know you're going to fail, well, still give it your best
    I'm sure you won't get the lowest score in the country

    a month later

    yoyoyo!!
    University is finished for the year, and I have received all of my marks back. I think I made a strong finish to the first year of university. I wish my high school teachers could see me now, especially the ones who did believe in me all the way through. I found that university is so much better for me as a learner, and I don't understand how. Maybe it's a sense of independence, maybe because it's free time, maybe because I feel more motivated to achieve my goals of becoming a teacher.
    I scored straight Bs in all four of my classes, which I'm pretty proud of. In my ATAR, I only got 2 Bs out of all my AoS units, so I'm glad I have a bit more consistency. My Weighted Assessment Mark is 72.25, which I think is a good, strong score. I am very eager to continue into next year, and continue my learning. I've still got a long way to go, but I can wait to see how I go!

    3 months later

    Hey friends! It's O-Week, and I'm not even in the country haha.
    I've been working at a Japanese ski resort all summer (or winter, I suppose), and I'll be back home in Victoria in only two weeks. The only downside of this is that I will miss the first two weeks of classes, but I'm sure I'll be able to follow along online.
    This will be my second year at university, and I'm super excited for everything to come this year. I get to choose my own subjects from a list of interesting and diverse pathways. My classes are entitled:

    Understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education (Core)
    Teaching Science
    Myth, Legend and History
    Biology of Cell and Organism

    I've decided to take a pathway in Secondary Education, specifically in Science (Biology) and Humanities (History and Cultural Studies). Despite doing average in VCE Biology and very poor in VCE History, I still really like these subjects, and think I have a great potential to learn and teach them. It's easy to be creative with them, and there are many ways you can show how a cellular process works, or a historic invasion occurred. I still have a long way to go as a teacher, but I am very eager, and excited to continue my adventure

    20 days later

    My first week back at university, and boy, I have a lot to catch up on.
    "Understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education" is similar to a class I took last year, so it shouldn't be too bad. I have a 500 word statement due on Thursday, which I'm having a bit of trouble with
    Teaching Science is cool, we're basically doing primary school physics experiments on electricity. I have a 1200 word lesson plan due on Monday
    Myth, Legend and History is... eh. I'm not crazy about the content, and there's a lot of writing and research to be done. I'm writing a 500 essay plan due on Monday
    Biology of Cell and Organism is fascinating. I never took chemistry in school, so there's a lot that I don't fully understand, but I still enjoy it. I had a lab class yesterday, and I loved it so much. Working with E. Coli and agar dishes was interesting and informative. I have a small quiz on Thursday.
    Overall, I think I've done well to catch up, even if I missed the first two weeks of classes. I still have a long way to go, but I know I'll get there in the end

    2 months later

    Almost finished the 1st semester of the 2nd year!!
    So far, I'm pretty pleased with this semester, I think my scores are a bit more consistent, mainly hovering around the mid-high 70s, but I'm in for a difficult few weeks, with end of semester assignments, and an exam too.
    "Understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education" is tricky. It's something I struggle with a bit, but I definitely see the importance behind it. I did well in my first assignment, my second assignment was OK, but I got great feedback on an oral presentation too. I have a 1600 word essay due Thursday
    Teaching Science has been amazing. I got 87% on my lesson plan earlier on, and I'm feeling confident about the rest of it. I have a portfolio due on June 3rd-ish
    Myth, Legend and History I don't really like... but I'm gonna stick it out, obviously. I had a 2000 word essay submitted last week, which I don't feel super confident about, but I'm sure I'll get a pass for it... stupid Vikings... And a portfolio due on June 6th.
    Biology of Cell and Organism has been absolutely amazing all round. I'm a little stuck on the chemistry side, but I think I'm pulling through well. There's a group presentation due on May 31st, and I'm super confident with that, as orals assignments are my strength
    I can't wait for the second semester, but I'm really looking towards changing a few subject choices too. I want to have a more scientific focus, rather than the humanities/history, as I enjoy Biology more

    2 months later

    hallooo!! As they say in German... kind of, lol
    I finished my first semester of Year 2 about a month ago, and I really wanted to post how I did, but I had to wait until today to get my exam results from one subject, which was Biology.
    This was my first semester doing elective subjects, with Biology, History and a "Teaching Science" class centered around science-based lesson plans. I also had another core class, centered around Indigenous Learning, which I felt more competent in. As I slowly saw the marks of my final assessments trickle in, I realised that this was a semester of trial and error. I found out that History may not be my forte, or a particular interest I want to pursue in, but I may think of replacing this with Chemistry, or Indigenous Studies.
    Anyway, marks are as follows:

    Understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander- 73 (B). I got a 14/15 on an oral presentation, something I do well in. My main essay was a bit shaky, but I did better than last year, and I felt more confident with my essays and reports
    Myth, Legend and History- 69 (C, but close). I admit it, I did not like this subject at all. There was a paper on the Vikings that absolutely crushed me for about a week. 2000 words about why they didn't have horned helmets, wrapped in barely legible Oxford (the ABSOLUTE WORST citation format). My port folio was better, with my assessor saying I had good descriptions and writing style. This is a subject I don't want to continue any further, as it doesn't interest me, and I fear I might eventually fail when I'm too far into it
    Teaching Science- 75 (B). I feel horrible about this one. I got high 80s for the first two assignments, and great feedback from my lecturer, who I find really respects and supports me, but I completely messed up the port folio part in the end. I was supposed to use a resource to get lesson plans for a semester-long science program in a Grade 5/6 class, but instead, I made up my own, without using the reference. He said it was a good series of lessons created, however it wasn't applicable to the rubric. It might have been my first A, or even an A+, it just bothers me how I screwed up like this
    Biology of Cell and Organism- 76 (B). Overall, good. I really enjoyed the practical classes, and I hope to do more subjects like this in the future. A group presentation was very well graded, especially after being paired up with some who were nervous. My exam score was 70ish, which I was also happy about, being my first uni exam. Hopefully, I can go back to doing classes like that with my newfound friends who are studying pharmaceuticals and biomedicine

    Next semester shall be a bit different for me. I'll have a core class of How Humans Learn, a psychology, cognition-based subject, not my strongest area. Teaching Reading, might be a bit odd to learn if I want to teach VCE Science, but I might gain some useful teaching strategies from them. Sport and Skill Analysis should be interesting, if I ever think about teaching P.E. And Culture, Health and Healing is a subject about anthropology. It's a third year elective, and I have no prior background to it... so I don't know what to expect.
    You might be wondering why I chose these electives, it's because there isn't really many choices available for me in the second semester, especially third-year subjects that don't have any pre-requisites... I'm nervous, but I know that I'll pull through!

    8 days later

    Hi FinFin!

    Super proud of your progress so far. Its really nice to see you flourishing. Even though you might not feel like it, you've are doing really well.

    2000 words about why they didn't have horned helmets, wrapped in barely legible Oxford (the ABSOLUTE WORST citation format).

    Have to admit, had a chuckle here. Uni really does seem to throw us even the most questionable assessment sometimes. There are times I go, is that really necessary.

    beep boop

      beep_boop
      I think I've come a long way since Year 12 in 2020, and I feel more focused with my studies too. Since I first started last year, I'll admit my enthusiasm has dropped a little bit, but I'm still deadset on becoming a teacher...
      ...just as long as I don't have to use Oxford too much

        Tas ahhh, thank you so much!!
        I haven't had a chance to work in a classroom yet, but I'm always thinking of fun ways to teach certain lessons. Some of my biggest inspirations to be a "cool teacher" comes from those that weren't afraid to goof off or be silly at times, but still effectively taught their lessons, and got along with all their students, and that's what I want to be

        13 days later

        Heyyooo!!
        Second week of Semester 2, Year 2 is finished at uni (all my classes are on Monday and Tuesday, and I hate it), and I'm happy to be back in it!
        This semester, I'm doing second and third year subjects, but I'm still not doing any placement for some reason. The Associate's Degree is a two-year course, which I'll merge into next year, but I should still be able to do placement with everyone else, right? So when everyone's off learning how to teach kids how to learn (or something like that), I'll get three weeks off class
        Teaching Reading reminds me of VCE English Language, in the way that it makes no sense, and it feels repetitive. I'm looking at the assignments ahead, and they don't seem too bad though, hopefully the content will clear up soon, I hope to do better in this class than I did in Year 11 and 12 Eng Lang.
        Sport and Skill Analysis is nice, but I wasn't expecting so much exercise to be involved. I'm not exhausted or anything, but my class was yesterday, and my body is still sore, even after some basic exercise. Theory work also seems like something I was supposed to learn in a prior class, despite this being my first P.E class
        Culture, Health and Healing seems a bit vague so far. Apparently, there's also an on-campus class I'm supposed to be taking, which doesn't show up on my timetable, because it's at the Melbourne campus, so I don't know what happens there. I don't know if the class is just a follow-up from the online lesson, but I'll need to email and clarify
        How Humans Learn looks promising. Psychology and cognitive learning isn't my strong point, but I understand the content, and the upcoming assessment tasks.

        Overall, I know it's early days, but I'm a bit nervous about this semester. Most of these classes I chose only because there wasn't much else to choose from, but that's the thing about being an adult, and a teacher; there's plenty of content out there that I don't care for, yet I still need to learn. Maybe I'll learn to like it, and it would be a big help if I do. Uni is still fun and engaging to me, and it makes me appreciate how far I've come since the sullying lows of Year 12. I'll keep you informed of how my semester goes