Very exciting and scary career opportunity: need help with confidence!

[lost1607307474]

I am a 21 year old student teacher, and recently I've bee given the opportunity to teach abroad! I will be spending 3 weeks in the Cook Islands teaching and working with very small local, under-privileged schools. This is a fantastic opportunity for me, and I am so excited but at the same time I am very frightened and need advice!

 

As much as I want to go on this overseas opportunity, it requires a lot of confidence that I don't have. In a short amount of time I will have to develop relationships with fellow student teachers, as well as mentors, and local polynesians who I will be teaching and working with. As I'll be overseas and away from family and friends, I will have to fend for myself and be very independent.

 

This really scares me as I don't think I can do it! I need tips, help, anything.

[Davie]

I first travelled from the UK to the USA with connecting flights.

 

It was tough, but I did it

 

I went and stayed with a family I'd never met. Just play it cool

 

You'll be fine mate

[Daligal83]

I think you need to go and prove to yourself that you CAN do this. It's an incredible opportunity and it sounds like it's something that you really want to do. Don't let your fear of failure hold you back.

 

Think about it, if you don't go on this trip how are you going to feel about it years from now? Are you going to think, wow I'm really glad I didn't push myself to try that new experience just in case it didn't go well. Or are you going to regret not taking the chance?

[Davie]

wow I'm really glad I didn't push myself to try that new experience just in case it didn't go well

 

What a wonderful perspective

 

that goes up on wall of other silly safety sayings like

 

"Use a condom!"

 

 

[karvala]

I am a 21 year old student teacher, and recently I've bee given the opportunity to teach abroad! I will be spending 3 weeks in the Cook Islands teaching and working with very small local, under-privileged schools. This is a fantastic opportunity for me, and I am so excited but at the same time I am very frightened and need advice!

 

As much as I want to go on this overseas opportunity, it requires a lot of confidence that I don't have. In a short amount of time I will have to develop relationships with fellow student teachers, as well as mentors, and local polynesians who I will be teaching and working with. As I'll be overseas and away from family and friends, I will have to fend for myself and be very independent.

 

This really scares me as I don't think I can do it! I need tips, help, anything.

 

One strategy I have used in these situations is sign-up before the full impact of the fear hits me. Think of it as an exciting opportunity, impulsively say yes, and then deal with the consequences as they arise. That's not normally a smart strategy in life, but it works well as a way of making yourself do things that you're afraid of.

 

I'm sure you will cope very well in the Cook Islands for 3 weeks. It is only 3 weeks, and they speak your language, and they're presumably used to nervous student teachers turning up and making them feel welcome, so I'm sure you will be fine. I can't promise you'll enjoy it, though you may well, but I can promise that you will absolutely not regret getting that experience.

 

There's a book you should read at some point, called "Feel the fear and do it anyway".

[lost1607307474]

One strategy I have used in these situations is sign-up before the full impact of the fear hits me. Think of it as an exciting opportunity, impulsively say yes, and then deal with the consequences as they arise. That's not normally a smart strategy in life, but it works well as a way of making yourself do things that you're afraid of.

 

I'm sure you will cope very well in the Cook Islands for 3 weeks. It is only 3 weeks, and they speak your language, and they're presumably used to nervous student teachers turning up and making them feel welcome, so I'm sure you will be fine. I can't promise you'll enjoy it, though you may well, but I can promise that you will absolutely not regret getting that experience.

 

There's a book you should read at some point, called "Feel the fear and do it anyway".

 

Thanks for the advice, this is very helpful. The trip isn't until August, and so while the fear hasn't fully set in yet I've already signed up for it and e-mailed coordinators! I've gotten myself into it before the fear can fully set it. It's a fantastic opportunity, and I really want to do it, it's just the fear that I need to shake off!

[Daligal83]

I think that once you're there you'll be fine. It's just the anticipation. Maybe reading up on the culture before you get there will help, so it won't all seem so different.

 

When I moved for grad school, I didn't know a soul in the city. I had to figure it all out for myself for the two years I was there. It was really hard but I'm very glad I did it because it made me a stronger person. I think you'll find after this whole experience that you'll be really happy you did it.

[leo73]

Courage is the very definition of going through something you fear even if you don't believe you will succeed. Take heart and dive in. I agree with Daligal...you'll be glad you did it and it will make you a stronger person.

 

Be relaxed and prepared. The rest will just fall into place.