Which activity I participated in: Teaching Across Borders (TAB)
Skills and strengths gained by getting involved
Throughout the TAB program, I learned a great deal about myself and developed many new skills and strengths. One of the key strengths I gained was flexibility. When you are in a completely different country on the other side of the world, things don’t always go as planned. Being flexible was essential, as it allowed me to adapt quickly to new situations and remain calm when unexpected challenges arose. TAB is also a highly collaborative program. I received support from many people along the way and developed a stronger sense of teamwork while working in classrooms in Australia. I also became more aware of how education systems differ across the world and learned to adapt to new cultures and daily routines within a different school environment. I had the opportunity to work in a classroom that supported students with specialized and diverse learning needs. Throughout this experience, I strengthened my mentorship skills through working with these diverse groups of students.
Networking during experiences
Building strong relationships and networking are important in any career, especially in the field of education. During the TAB program, I was fortunate to meet many supportive individuals, and I made an effort to take something valuable from every interaction including new ideas, teaching strategies, and different pieces of advice. These experiences helped me realize how essential it is to build and maintain professional connections. Now that I am in the teaching field, I continue to see the importance of fostering these relationships. Education is a collaborative profession where you are constantly meeting new people, and you never know how someone you meet might impact your practice or become a future colleague or mentor. Every connection has the potential to play a meaningful role in your professional journey.
How to speak about experiences in an interview
I’d suggest that students talk about the main highlights of their experiences in an interview. These could include what they learned, the challenges they faced and how they overcame them, and how they plan to apply the skills they gained in their own classrooms. From my experience, when you make it personal and share the different opportunities you’ve had to learn and grow, the person or people interviewing you gain a greater understanding of who you are and what skills you bring to the table.
Photo above: I am in the pink shirt – in Australia on TAB with my roommates and the teachers from our placement school. (2022)
Photo above: me at the beginning of the school year in my Kindergarten classroom (2025)