Onelife Stories
BECKY’S STORY
‘Thank you for noticing, Miss. You’re the only one who has’ were the words muttered quietly while her friends were distracted by the bustle of the classroom.
I’d been checking in with this girl consistently over the past few weeks after noticing she’d become increasingly withdrawn and miserable. It’s the moments like these, after all the tough grind of building trust, noticing, being kind and consistent over years of teaching, which make it all worth it. That breaktime she came to my classroom and disclosed a heart-breaking situation at home which she’d not shared before.
As a school, we have since then been able to take all the steps necessary to ensure this girl is safe, is cared for and knows she’s valued. How big that small moment has been in directing the future of that young person. It’s times like these where you really believe the teacher-training slogan: ‘every day can change a child’s life’ (and less so when you are marking what-feels-like-the-thousandth Year 7 homework submission from someone who clearly has not listened to instructions!).
“I had a life-altering moment in my leadership journey when I was 17 years old at a Onelife Conference”
To leave a legacy is to leave a lasting impact on someone. My vision for becoming a teacher is to leave a positive impact on every child’s life that I engage with. I dream that every child would leave my classroom knowing they are seen, known, valued and worthy of love regardless of their academic achievements and background. More than that, they would come to know and see their abilities, truly coming to believe in themselves.
I had a life-altering moment in my leadership journey when I was 17 years old at a Onelife Conference. I arrived for what I thought would be just a few fun days with friends. But something much more profound happened. I came to realise that I’d disqualified myself from leading for three reasons: I believed I couldn’t lead because I was a woman, because I was young, and because I was unmarried. These three preconceptions were completely abolished at the Onelife Conference. I came to understand the reality that God had made me me, and had put a call of leadership and influence over me and my life. It was a moment that totally altered the trajectory of my life!
“I make the intentional decision every day to choose being present with every child in front of me”
Right now I’m leading in the sphere of Education as a secondary school teacher in Birmingham, as well as being part of the leadership of the youth team at my church, Gas Street Birmingham. 17-year-old me before the Onelife Conference never could have imagined myself leading in these places!
Psalm 118:28 tells us: ‘This is the day the Lord has made. Let us be glad and rejoice in it’. Today, God is calling us to step into all he has created us to be and lead boldly in whatever sphere God has placed us in. We simply need to step into it!
This verse also calls us to step into it today, which requires us being present. Being present and actively engaged in what’s happening around you is something I’m aware young people today are not the best at. However, this is a trend that’s leaking rapidly into older generations. We’ve all seen that couple out for a dinner date, both sat glued to their phones. Or the child in the park running up to their parent wanting their attention yet they’re met by their parent flicking through social media.
I make the intentional decision every day to choose being present with every child in front of me. I daily remind myself that carrying the Kingdom of God into my school looks like sensitively paying attention to every child that’s before me. What could this look like for you?
Watch Becky’s Story
Watch Becky share her Onelife story.
About Becky
Becky is a secondary school teacher in Birmingham, UK.