For My First Skool Senior Teacher Nurhamizah Salehudin, going back to the books is almost second nature.
This, because the 27-year old believes that “life is also about taking changes, trying new things, making mistakes and learning from them.” It is also why she has kept at the ongoing process to keep abreast of current issues, and to upgrade and upskill herself at every opportunity she has.
For a start, when she first started teaching in 2008, she equipped herself with a Certificate in Teaching. She then went on to take a Diploma in Preschool Education-Teaching before joining My First Skool as an English teacher five years ago.
In 2013, NTUC First Campus sponsored Nurhamizah for a Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)-Leadership, which she successfully completed in 2015.
Besides being a lifelong learner, Nurhamizah is also an exemplary and committed teacher. In 2013, she became one of only six in Singapore to be awarded the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) Outstanding Early Childhood Teacher Award for expanding the boundaries of professionalism and for being committed to delivering high quality early childhood care and education.
Professional Development Programme
Today, Nurhamizah is one of 38 preschool teachers from NTUC First Campus selected to join the Professional Development Programme, where she will get to take up modules such as the ‘Professional Roles of a Learning Support Educator’ and ‘Creating a Conducive Learning Environment’ – courses which she believes will go a long way in the work she hopes to do with children with special needs. Her former principal, Ms Suhana Salleh, who nominated her for the PDP is one of Nurhamizah’s strongest supporters.
“I nominated Mizah for the PDP as I wanted to support her professional growth and believe she has the passion necessary to go further in this sector.”
Challenging but Undeterred
But while Nurhamizah has been making great strides in her career and personal development, she has also had to make certain sacrifices in her race against time to juggle work and studies. Thankfully, whenever she felt like giving up, she could count on her family and Ms Suhana as pillars of support and strength.
If need be, Ms Suhana would also relieve Nurhamizah of her workload when things are tough, and be there for her emotionally as well.
Nurhamizah herself maintains a positive and driven outlook. “There will always be challenges and obstacles in whatever you do. I always tell myself to have a positive mindset, start fresh, be receptive to changes and feedback because opportunities don’t always come knocking.”
After she completes the PDP, which will take three years, she plans to pursue a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education with Psychology.
She explained: “I still need to continue to have a deeper knowledge in Early Childhood. With psychology, I can understand better the different characteristics of children and I hope I can better support or create the environment that is healthy for the children.”