I love my job
Just this week, I was asked: “How would you rate your ‘job satisfaction’ on a scale of 1 to 10?” Well, I’ve got to be honest, 10.
I’m a very lucky man. I love my job. It is hard at times, and occasionally I struggle to get out of bed. But that’s more to do with my fondness for sleep than my dislike of work.
I am currently working as a Learning Support Assistant, primarily in a school for children with Autism. I’ve been doing this job since November and I can honestly say it’s been an amazing experience. It’s not easy work, it’s definitely not for everyone and it can be really taxing. The first time I had to change a nappy on a 15 year boy was not a particularly pleasant experience and one that I work hard to avoid repeating! But it comes with the job. Someone has to do it, and so I did. But it’s the other, less smelly, jobs in the school that I really enjoy.
Rubberly bands
Spending a whole day one-on-one with a child, helping them with their work and trying to prevent them from throwing a wobbly is exciting and challenging. Every day in the school is different. As I am a supply assistant I generally get moved around the school a lot. Sure, it can be a bit frustrating because you want to get to know the kids, but it also means I get to experience the whole school and interact with different children, all of whom act completely uniquely. And they’re funny! Take the boy who says “I got the iiiiitch!” while furiously scratching his shin. Or the kid who can’t say “rubber band” so says “rubberly bands” instead.
Making a difference
I really love just engaging with a child and giving them attention so that at the end of the day you feel like you “made a difference”. In reality, I probably don’t make a huge difference, not long term anyway. But when a child who is renowned for aggressive behaviour and a rebellious attitude actually sits and does some work due to your guidance, you get a certain buzz. You can’t help thinking that you’ve helped the child - that it is due to your hard work that this child’s life is better today than it was yesterday.
Moving on
I'm going to do a PGCE course in September and I feel really lucky that I’ve had this year working as an LSA. It has confirmed my desire to teach, to be directly involved with children and (hopefully) give them the things they need to do well in life. When I complete my course and start teaching, I won’t necessarily be involved with special needs, but it is something I would love to come back to.
The best thing
Teachers have a unique and special role in the lives of their students. A great teacher, LSA or carer will impact on a child’s life in a very real and lasting way. In my mind, that’s reward in itself, regardless of how much I earn. Obviously I wouldn’t say that one job is better than another. But for me, this is better. This is the best thing I could do with my life.
Written by Pete Matyus. Posted on 30th May.
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