Are you thinking of becoming a teacher and want to find out more?
Are you thinking of becoming a teacher and want to find out more?
Sports co-ordinator and physical education teacher
“It is great to help my students develop and gain a sense of achievement through physical education."
A career in human resources and management training sounds exciting enough, but after ten years in that business Alofa was ready for new challenges, and more than ready to move out of an office environment.
"I saw a position advertised at my old college for a Sports Co-ordinator. I’d always played sport basketball, softball, rugby, (I’ve hung up my rugby boots now) and enjoyed coaching young people," she says modestly, "so I gave it a go."
Now Alofa is one of four staff members teaching physical education, and coaching over 50 percent of the schools’ teams as well. And that’s no small workload participation as Porirua College is very keen and "these kids are hugely talented at rugby, basketball, netball - at all sports actually!" she adds.
Being thrown in at the deep end with hordes of adolescents did not worry Alofa. "I am the youngest of seven kids and aunty to 20 nephews and nieces who range in age from 2-20!"
"I love it. The two things I love best are combined in my job - kids and sport. We call these kids at Porirua the "Talent Farm" - they are just naturals at sport. It is great to help them develop and gain a sense of achievement through phys ed. And it’s great to see them mature and develop as people."
"And they are much more appreciative of my efforts than adults ever were," she laughs.