SHSS Alumnae Link - Imogen Weller

Welcome to SHSS Alumnae Link.

This is where we connect with past pupils and find out what they’re up to now.

This week we linked with Imogen Weller who graduated in 2020.

Name and position:

My name is Imogen Weller. I am a past pupil of SHSS and I am currently in my 3rd year of the Bachelor of Education in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.

Lives:

During the week, I live in Limerick but at the weekends, I come home and live with my family, much to their delight.

Best memory of Sacred Heart:

It is hard to choose one memory out of 6 years to deem the best, so I have decided to mention a few. Having Mr. Pegler for Junior Cert Science was always going to be a comical experience, but when he chose me to race him in emptying a bottle of water (which, of course, I lost), he just proved this. We created so much smoke in the science labs over the course of the two years that I’m surprised we didn’t have the fire brigade on our backs. Speech and Drama in 3rd year also made me laugh when Ms. Cotter expected us all to show up to our exam in beautiful dresses, and instead, we showed up in pyjamas, dressing gowns, slippers, and the ugliest hair and makeup I have ever seen. Show was always the biggest highlight for me throughout school, but when Ms. O’Regan told me that I was, “a natural”, whilst playing Kurt in ‘The Sound of Music’, I really thought I’d made it (spoiler alert, I didn’t make it, but I looked great in a lederhosen). Partaking in Literacy Lift-Off in TY just confirmed that I wanted to become a primary school teacher and brought me so much joy. Lastly, being a Peer Mentor was a very important role for me as I was given the opportunity to help the incoming 1st years settle in, find their feet, and truly start to enjoy all that SHSS has to offer.

What were your favourite classes?

Music was my favourite subject for the entirety of my time in school. Whether it was Ms. Whyte telling me to stop talking whilst she laughed at me, Ms. Lynch letting us create an absolute racket with the boom-whackers, or Ms. Hayes making me go to the top of the class with singer, Emily Wurramara, and sing and dance with her, I was always at my happiest when I was in the Music Room. P.E. was definitely not my forte, but Mr Cronin laughing at me every time I told him that I was retiring after the warm-up did boost my mood every week. Maths was a subject that I surprisingly enjoyed. In 5th year, Mr. Hanley really helped me realise that I was not only capable of understanding and completing Leaving Cert higher level Maths, but that I could also enjoy it (I’m still shocked too, don’t worry). 

Tell us about your career progression to date:

Considering I am still in college, my career progression has not been the most exciting as of yet. I have completed 2 placements in different primary schools which I thoroughly enjoyed. I have also been a substitute teacher for a mainstream classroom teacher, for a Special Education teacher, and for an English as an Additional Language teacher. These have all boosted my confidence as a trainee teacher and taught me invaluable lessons about what makes a good teacher. This summer, I will be going to Uganda to volunteer as part of a teaching programme with Nurture Africa. This will be an experience of a lifetime and will undoubtedly be very eye-opening. I hope to come back a better person and a better teacher.

If you weren’t in the job you have, what would you be doing?

Teaching is what I always wanted to do, so I never really had a back-up plan. In hindsight, this probably wasn’t very clever, but it somehow worked out in my favour! I have always loved children, so if I wasn’t a teacher, I would probably be involved in a Montessori or a Creche. 

Advice you would give your teenage self:

Be yourself. If people don’t like you for who you are, it’s their loss, not yours.

Favourite quote or motto?

“Be yourself, everyone else    is already taken”

What is your hidden talent?

I am yet to find any talents, let alone hidden ones. I am rather flexible for a girl who sits on the couch all day, so maybe I could call this a hidden talent!

Huge thanks to Imogen for taking the time to answer our questions.

See you soon for the next instalment of SHSS Alumnae Link.