Teaching - my First Love …

After a 3-year hiatus, I am coming back to my first love : Teaching! This does not mean I am stopping any of my healing work. I have reached a place where I am allowing all my passions and my Me’s to co-exist. Before I was a healing guide, a Reiki practitioner and a T.R.E practitioner, I was a teacher, an educational well-being counsellor, a special needs educator, a creative learning consultant, a pedagogical consultant, an interior decorator and more. I studied Art and English at Teachers College in Copenhagen way back in the day.

A visit this summer with 2 of my former students who graduated 10 years ago

What has connected all of my work throughout, has been and continues to be communication, creativity and well-being. Through teaching, counselling, creating libraries, secret reading nooks and art rooms at almost every school I have worked in, specializing in the emotional, mental and physical welfare of students, I have brought communication, beauty, creativity and well-being to all my work in both the public and special needs schools I have worked in over the years.

Today I introduce myself as all of the above - a multitalented creative - a teacher of Art and English, a writer, an artist, an interior decorator, an energy and body worker, a mentor and a healing guide. I embody all of my Me’s.

I have finally found a way for this to work for me. The way I structure and organize how I work was key for me. Deciding to work more project-based and less by definition or title, has changed my approach entirely and I have transitioned form often feeling overwhelmed by having too many hats, to being able to focus my skills on any given project for a period of time, sometimes dedicating a 3-hour window to a project, sometimes a week or sometimes even a month. I am absolutely convinced that having a wide range of experience and working continuously in different fields makes me a better teacher/writer/artist/interiordecorater/energybodyworker/mentor/healingguide.

I have had a break from teaching, a 3-year break. A break that has helped me realize just how much I missed teaching, working with students of all ages. I am at a place in my life where I am allowing myself to embrace everything I am passionate about, everything I enjoy and everything that I know I am good at. Probably the most important acknowledgment is realizing that I do not have to choose just “the one thing”.

Teaching Art and English was always one of my favourite things. One of the most beautiful teaching moments I ever experienced while working at a special needs school was after I had had a long absence from work due to a head injury. On my first day back after teaching my first 2 classes, during the break almost all the children in the school came into my classroom and sat down to play “Among Us” with each other (a special needs school with about 40 students in total). A classroom full of students who normally would sit in the comfy sofa area to play, came in one after another until there were no chairs left and then they sat on the tables, all calm and quiet. One after the other quietly sticking their head around the door asking if they could join in. They all stayed the whole break not moving from their spots. If you have ever worked at a special needs school, you will know the significance of this seemingly small gesture. This was their way of telling me they missed me and welcoming me back to work.

A more recent beautiful moment. When I was in Denmark this last June, I managed to organize a visit with 2 of my old students from 15 years ago that I have been in contact with on and off over the years. We stayed in contact by way of them updating me whenever they felt they had reached a milestone in their lives that they wanted to share, when they got their first job, when they got accepted to further education, when they got their first baby…

It was such a beautiful afternoon. I kept pinching myself that it was actually happening. They were the same, the cheeky 15-year-olds, and they were totally different, grown-up young men. We had different memories, different things that stood out for us. But there was a deep connection, inexplicable. Looking at these 2 now young men in their 30’s I felt so much joy and gratitude at being able to see and witness the amazing young men that they have become. In our conversation at times it was like not a day had passed and the 15 years had gone by “literally” in the blink of an eye.

What I loved most about teaching was how I could have a discussion with students of all ages, and I would always come out of the classroom having learnt something from them. I feel I also owe a very special thank you to all the children, (many of whom are now grown-ups and have their own children) who during my years as a teacher taught me so much about life and the world at large. I am forever grateful for each and every one of you.

 For these and many other beautiful reasons are why I have created iloloajufo.com

Here I can continue to teach both in person in Sardinia and online. I am specialized in teaching Danish students experiencing school fatigue, supporting them in keeping up with their curriculum during the periods where they are unable to physically attend school. I have additionally specialized in supporting students in studying for their exams, assisting in writing papers and mentoring students with special needs during big life transitions and or during their further education.

 I have created iloloajufo.com to share my passion and my teaching skills, teaching English and Danish and to create more beautiful and memorable moments for myself and others. I have many years of experience teaching English to everyone from 5-year-olds to Chinese businessmen.

 If you know someone, who knows someone who needs a bit of support or would like to learn English from a multitalented creative, let me know. 

Until next time

big hugs

Lulù