I wish you all the best, Hollie. I totally understand your reasons, which resonate with many teachers. We feel totally dispensable because they are hiring so many probationers who are £20,000 cheaper to pay compared to a tenured teachers. They wear them out and replace them. Teachers near retirement are holding on to their jobs for a few more years because of their pensions, and don't know anything else so just stay. But again, they are being replaced by younger probationers/ECTs. The cycle then repeats.... I also resonate with your feelings on not being valued. I didn't have a good probationary experience. I felt like I was being watched and judged because they place so much weight on observations - even thought they are little snapshots of your teaching, or other members of staff coming in to do 'snap' learning walks. In a way, I didn't feel trusted to teach... Parent's and staff in the same building didn't feel like they were on my side, and in some ways it felt like they were working against me... (Horrible feeling). The council have an agenda and people at the top (SLT) who run any school don't necessarily know what it is like this decade to teach in Scotland, because those who manage the school have not taught for many years, well before the pandemic. Schools can also turn a blind eye to behaviour problems or staff wellbeing because they care more about results and pandering to pupil/parent needs, but not so much fulfilling staff needs with workload, mental health, huge changes in expectations since COVID (online learning, etc). To some teachers, this is their life - they get up, go to work, plan lessons, teach them, stay behind till 5 or 6 o'clock to do marking/paperwork, meetings etc, then they go home. Just because you work all the time does not mean you are working effectively. Teaching is not your life! We have so many things we would like to do and achieve in life. Life is not so linear nowadays. Jumping from degree to teaching and staying in this profession for life no longer applies. I'm staying on for another year, but I'm not sure how long. It would be great if most of my working life will be spent in this sector, but because of the way it is being run I don't know if it's sustainable. I might try gaining some experience then working abroad to get change. Go out there and explore the world, because before you know it 30 years can pass by and you will regret how much you have missed.

I’m so glad you listened to your own needs and didn’t live with regret. I wish you the best with whatever you choose to do and when 💜

Oh Hollie, I feel for you so much. This is such an exciting start of a new journey! You have such a good foundation to work off of now, looking forward to see your new path :) Can totally relate to wanting to live life first before settling down. I'm starting my path this September, moving from England to Scotland to study at UoA and your university videos were such a calming presence during the stress and self-doubt I had about moving to another country and city 500 miles away. It feels weirdly fitting that you are starting a new journey as I start mine. Wishing you all the best in the future :)

You Are Amazing! Huge Inspiration to others absoultely and good luck to all your future endeavours, it sounds your on an incredable journey and i wish you all the best xx

Well done Hollie! You are very brave to listen to your heart and embrace your positive ”what if?” I have loved your videos discussing primary teaching and showing your experiences. I hope you do continue to record your journey, whatever it is you decide to do, and continue to share it with us. I have just gotten into my dream primary teaching course and am so excited to start my journey! Good luck 🤍

Good luck with your next chapter, you are very excited about your plans. Fingers crossed all goes to plan for you, looking forward to seeing your adventures x

I just want to say thank you. I first started watching your videos during your uni years. I was considering going to uni but was scared and confused about it all. Watching your videos inspired me and gave me the final push to apply. I’m going into my second of uni in September and it was the best decision. I can’t thank you enough, your videos helped me make sense of it all and helped me through the application process, freshers events and placement. I even went to an open day and applied for Aberdeen because i liked to so much. (Didn’t get in though lmao) I can’t wait to see what happens next! ❤

Hollie you don't need to owe us an explanation, you need to put yourself and your wants/needs first #proud of you for doing this. I'm currently a 2nd year student teacher in New Zealand and found your channel at the start of last year and they helped me get through my degree so far so Thank you Hollie

This is so awesome! Enjoy your travels. What a fun adventure that lies ahead. Teaching will always be there

I found your channel back when i was having doubts whether i wanted to be a teacher. I am on the university course at the minute and i feel exactly the same. I can honestly say that this is my dream job but cant see myself doing this the rest of my life. I’m so glad that o have found someone who feels the same. Although it is sad that you are leaving i am so glad that you are doing something which i going to make u happy. So excitied to see what the future hods for you. Xx

So exciting! Totally get how you feel, I did a gap year travelling after uni and it truly was the best thing I ever did, also have just changed career at 32, like you I can’t see myself doing the same thing for the rest of my life. I think if you have these thoughts and don’t act on them you will always wonder ‘what if’. Good luck, I know you will have the best time!

Hi Hollie, I totally related to this video. I just had to comment! I'm 23 and graduated from uni last August doing a sports teaching degree. I felt the exact same way as you, feeling in limbo, stuck in Scotland due to covid and needing more in life. Craving travel, new experiences and taking on new challenges is how I felt too. So, I decided to do exactly that. I'm now 6 months into a 1-year ESL Teaching job in South Korea and I'm finally feeding all the cravings I had. I came across your videos because now that I am returning next year, I want to get my qualification in teaching. It sounds like our experiences/situation are similar, but the timeline is swapped lol! You're totally doing the right thing for yourself. Forget the what ifs! Once you get all the life adventures and experiences you need, you’ll feel like a totally new person. I wish you the best of luck, you've got an amazing journey ahead 😊!

Well done Hollie! It’s a big change, but needs to be done and would ultimately be something you would always regret if you didn’t go for it. Exciting times ahead! If you ever fancy doing any automotive/motorsport with us then we would be delighted to work with you :)

Your video provides valuable guidance and encouragement. Keep up the excellent work!

How exciting!! All the best 💫💞

Hi Hollie. I've just found your channel after seeing the BBC Knockhill article. I used to teach you guitar many years ago in school! As a former teacher, I absolutely condone your decision to take time out. I started teaching while at Uni & never managed to make the break, always thinking a good time would come but became a slave to the wage (albeit a rather low one !). I now bitterly regret not being able to travel the world & do all the things that I wanted to. Friends of mine that did manage to do it never looked back. So I say, live the life that you want & DO IT ALL!! Best wishes, Dave.

Nothing wrong with a career break, especially when you're still young!! I'm the opposite- currently on a "gap year", but hoping to return to the classroom in September!

You are very brave. I've been teaching for 28 years and need a change. Still trying to figure it out.

Hope it is going well? I have just finished after 32 years and am going back to being a self employed carpenter. The first 15 were good but I wish I had left at least ten years ago. It has changed so much in recent years and the pressure is through the roof and if your life isn’t 100% teaching (to the exclusion of family and interests) you are not good enough!!! Hope it has been a good year. Happy Christmas!

Get how you feel Hollie! Been on a bit of a “gap year” after graduating in physics last year with no clue what to do with myself! Was up in the air for a bit until i started a customer service job, really wasn’t for me but quit a couple of weeks ago, since then i applied to some courses for next year (including teaching!) and have an offer for an environmental management course next year. Definitely feels scary making a huge change but i’m sure that you wont regret going for it!

Came to this channel from the Dirtfish rally video and there I assumed you were a journalist/vlogger type and was surprised that you weren't in that type of youtuber freelance content creator role. Great to hear that you won't settle for the ordinary nine to five situation but are reaching for bigger, better experiences.

Hi Hollie! I am a huge fan of rallying and your father in particular. He ment a lot to me when i was young, watching all events and playing all of his games! I stumbled across your channel and i have to say you have some interesting content since i'm also working as a teacher here in Sweden. Just wanted to say good job with the channel and wish you the best of luck. =) Also i hope that we will se more rally-related things with you, i really liked the interview you did with Malcolm Wilson. Anyway, cheers from Sweden! =)

It will make you a better teacher in the long run. You go girl. Good luck.☘

Haven't kept up with your channel much since I studied abroad in Aberdeen (your video on why you decided to study at the university is one that I used for reference when deciding on where I'd like to go). It felt a little uncanny to watch this video as I have been experiencing a similar situation and feel as though there aren't many people around me who fully get it. I had to finish off my senior year remotely once the pandemic began. While it felt like a punch in the gut to have a graduation I had worked so hard for pulled away from me, I continued to remind myself to be grateful for other things of importance, such as my upcoming internship. I had received my internship offer from a company I absolutely loved the thought of working for and moved to a completely different state right before "graduation". Two days after I arrived I received the email that they were suspending the program indefinitely. Since that point I've had to move several more times and worked wherever I could. It was the first time ever that I felt so vulnerable and unhappy. I can't say I've figured out what's next or how I will find the happiness that I've been looking for. I'm now lucky to work for a company that pays well enough and let's me work at my own pace. Can I see myself working here for years to come? No haha. But I can't see myself working anywhere for 20-40 years and thinking that I'll be fully content with my career. I'm trying to be better about thinking through other ways of finding fulfillment. For my entire life I envisioned success as finding a job title that I'd be proud to boast and make six figures a year. Now that I can no longer live with that fallacy it leaves me feeling a little hollow and unsure on what I should do. Doesn't help that turning 25 next week feels like the end of the world haha. I hope to see more content from you soon and that you'll find happiness with every step you take into the unknown!

I’m taking some time from work at 25. It’s so reassuring to see someone of a similar age do the same! Good luck!

Same here. I understand & support you. Keep your head up~ love

As a teacher who quit last year. More power to you, wish you nothing but the best!🎉 Teachers are treated horribly by the British schooling system so honestly not surprised you quit

Hollie... it doesn't matter what questions we have, its your decision. You need to be happy in life! All i want is for you to be happy! You are still young so go and try different things the world is in the palm of your hand... xoxo

You won't regret it at all, sounds like you saved yourself from getting stuck in a working life routine and at 23 that ain't much fun!

Omg! Didn’t expect that title!!!

You have a calling,. If in doubt , flat out.

I know what you mean by job security. I work in the USA and teachers are often viewed as expendable. You could do amazing work and you could not get a contract. It’s like every year our contracts are up in the air. Decades ago most teachers would teach at a place and stay long term. It’s just not the case anymore. You have multiple passions and it’s great that you get to explore them.

Hi my love, would you mind sharing the audio of the man speaking. It’s very inspirational. Wish you the best of luck in your choices ❤️

Great video. Did teaching in uk for one year after probo year. Then went over to Australia for a holiday for a few weeks after my one year teaching contract was finished. Got working holiday visa, then residency and citizenship. I recall some uk teachers and negative uni tutors telling me ... why you doing that, Australia this that etc. Negatively. They had never been there - Dippy downers. I just ignored it. Ended up staying in Australia, went to remote teaching in the outback with mostly Aboriginal students for a few years. Different world from anything else i had did. Morphed my careers and skills into career guidance in schools, colleges, universities with masters degree. Yes, i have worked extremely hard to get there. Sometimes of whats ifffs?. Enough dippy downers waiting to tell you bla bla bla bluster, and it seems to be those who won't wish to take a risk. Teaching made a great base for me and so many options to point from there. The more you put into it, the more you gain from it. I grew up in scotland too, and completely get it. Good luck, you only have one life. Live it. 😊

How 🤔 to get to more and still teach My cup of tea 🍵 😌 from California I substitute teach (started in 2001) Took off a couple of years to explore alternative careers and returned 😀 After school I have had various jobs... Yay!!! Doing all kinds of careers. Living life...traveling during Summers ☀️ Or just chilling locally in nice air conditioned places.

I have taught for 42 years and wish I had the guts to change jobs in my 40s.

I trained to be a primary school teacher at university and didn't go into it in the end, it was too stressful.

Sounds like you were a good teacher. Try international teaching. I changed countries every four years and it keeps you learning constantly and you get to travel! Ticks all boxes

If you do a ski season. Would you want to teach abroad after that?

Oh wow! Surprised. I feel like you must have been a wicked teacher. I’ll bet some children were disappointed.

As soon as you said “I thrive in change” I said “she must be a saggitarius” like myself! Im actually feeling the same way as you. I recently visited the UK and fell in love. Specifically with Scotland. Ive worked in a high demand tech job for 8 years and I want something different and ive thought about teaching in the UK. Best of luck on your journey!

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