It was in 2022 when I first stepped into a classroom. My former form teacher had invited me back to my alma mater to share more about emceeing and hosting after further honing my skills through my co-curricular activities in polytechnic. It was during that workshop that I formed my interest and discovered my ability to teach and connect with students.

Prior to that, I had never considered teaching as a career. However, as I gained more opportunities to engage with students and introduce various media and production skills through my student internship attachment with VintageRadio.SG, a now-defunct not-for-profit radio station, the idea of becoming a teacher began to stick.

My first emcee and hosting workshop with Greendale Secondary School in 2022.

As I concluded my final semester in polytechnic, I applied for the Bachelor of Arts Double Major Programme at the National Institute of Education (NIE), and in August 2023, I was offered a placement alongside the MOE Teaching Award.

A different kind of audience

Many of my former teachers and lecturers were surprised when I made the switch. To them, media was the industry for me, as they knew I have aspired to join the industry since secondary school and was doing well in my diploma course.

Though, deep down, I had started to have my doubts as I neared the end of my polytechnic journey.

Creating content had slowly begun to feel like a competition. I was no longer creating for my own enjoyment but for the validation of others. I also found myself unhealthily comparing myself with others. 

But my experiences in the classroom were different. Teachers would instinctively share their ideas with everyone and there was a strong sense of community as we worked towards improving together so we can engage students better. In the end, I found myself growing more, both professionally and personally, when I was teaching the workshops.

Ultimately, teaching became the most enticing option upon graduation.

From microphones to maps

Coming from a Media and Communications background, many assumed that I would be teaching English. They were surprised when I shared that I chose to teach Geography.

To me, the decision was simple. Geography is the subject where I feel I can help my students make sense of the world. By understanding how the world works and why it is the way it is, they can gain a deeper appreciation for the world around them.

My secondary school Geography teacher was also one of the reasons why I chose to teach the subject. The way he structured his lessons made me understand the geographical events that were headlining newspapers better, and I hope to do the same for my future students.

At first, making the switch was scary. I was unsure whether my media skills would be of any relevance to teaching, let alone to the teaching of Geography. However, as I reflect back on my experiences as a student and the current landscape of teaching and learning, I have noticed how having teachers with different backgrounds and skillsets is crucial.

Especially with our holistic education, having teachers with diverse backgrounds allow students to learn from teachers with firsthand experiences as they explore various domains such as leadership, arts, sports, and more.

My fellow geography student teachers and I made chai as part of a cultural geographies presentation.

Merging the two

As I close off my first year at NIE, I noticed how media skills have become increasingly relevant for teachers. In an increasingly digital world where our students are actively engaging with various forms of content online, being able to create and utilise media tools in our classrooms help make lessons more engaging and sustain the curiosity of students.

As an aspiring Geography teacher, I often tap on what I learnt in my freshmen year journalism modules when preparing lesson plans. Like how a journalist structures their articles, I intend to structure my lessons in a way that allows students from all backgrounds to better understand what has happened and how it is relevant to them. This is also why I look forward to using news articles and journalistic videos as a resource when illustrating the effects of geographical events on people and communities.

With my media background, I am bringing my knowledge and experience with various media tools and understanding of trends to the table. Through my role as the Corporate Communications Officer (CCO) of the 35th Management Committee of the NIE Student Teachers’ Club, I was able to put into practice what I have learnt over the years and create engaging content for fellow student teachers.

It is also where I have gained opportunities to support other student teachers in developing their media skills and design capabilities. My peers from various Media and Communications diplomas are also sharing their fair share of experience and expertise!

As the CCO, I supported a team of five student teachers in capturing photos and videos for our social media coverage of #TeamNIE at the NTU Inter-School Games 2026.

If I ever find myself back in my final year of polytechnic, I would not change a single thing. I will still choose to be a teacher. After all, I have been able to merge my two passions together! It’s a career that has the best of both worlds.

Photos courtesy of: Kristelynn Lim, Ms Una Hsu and Mr Muhammad Danial Mohamed Khalid