I finished 5 years of uni at the end of 2011 and started working full time as a Grade 7/8 teacher at a local high school. Teaching, like all professions, brings with it some very unique joys and challenges. I have been very blessed by the Lord in my transition into full time work, with a job I love in which I am daily challenged to love others and to be a witness to Christ’s love in my life.

One of the biggest changes from uni to work is that the workplace has forced me to spend a lot of time with people who have different personalities and worldviews. All these worldviews, though very diverse, have one thing in common – they sit in opposition to the gospel. As a Christian, this has led me to reflect on different aspects of my worldview – the gospel – and how it interacts with issues like homosexuality and atheism, as well as the ideas that ‘all faiths lead to the same place’ and ‘life’s all about being the best person you can be’. Although I engaged with these ideas at an intellectual level at uni, facing them as realities in the workplace has certainly challenged me to refine my approach to these issues from a gospel perspective. It has been a real challenge to balance positive collegial relationships with a conviction that the gospel is the truth.

Another challenge, and one that is also a joy, is the great number of opportunities I get to demonstrate God’s love in my workplace. Many children are exposed to some of the worst of our fallen world, and I regularly hear stories that make me long for Jesus’ return. But each of these stories reminds me of my students’ need for Jesus and I relish the opportunities to love them as Christ has loved me. I pray that my life might reflect Christ’s love and that although I am not permitted to share my faith with words, I can do so by my actions.

One thing that is common to all workplaces is gossip, and refusing to participate in it is one of the simplest ways to reflect Christ in the workplace. For me, this is one of the most challenging things to do, and something I know will always be a battle. I would encourage anyone entering the workplace to give some serious thought to their approach to gossip prior to beginning. It is much too easy to use excuses like – ‘I’m just building rapport with my colleagues’ or ‘I’m only new, I don’t want to step out of line...’. Again, that balance of developing good relationships with colleagues while refusing to compromise on the gospel is something that requires lots of thought and prayer.

For me, the most important thing is that I leave an imprint of Christ’s love on my students. If I can strive every day to reflect Christ, regardless of whatever else is going on, then I feel I am serving God in the place that he wants me to be.

Ruth Davies – graduated Master of Teaching at UTAS in 2011