Since I was four or five, I've always wanted to be a teacher. I'd put my dolls in a row and teach them songs, nursery rhymes or I'd just talk to them.about my favourite things. That was back in 1963. A year or two later, when I learned to read and write, I used my dolls to teach them what I had learned at school. My mum would often tell dad: "She will be a teacher one day." My dad would laugh saying that it was too early to say what I'd be one day.
From left to right: Front row: Louisa, Maria, Eleni, Popi. Second row: Marianna, Doris, Katerina
My mum was right. I became a teacher and never regretted it. Even when I worked for others, my students were "my kids" and the school was "mine". But my big dream was to run my own language school - a dream that came true in September 1997, Some friends and family told me then that I was crazy to leave a great teaching job for something uncertain. When I turned down a post at public high schools, they thought that nobody in their right mind would ever do this. But I did. Because I wanted to hold my dream and get the moral satisfaction of running my own language school.
This wasn't always a bed of roses but my love for "my kids" has always been so strong that any other problems looked insignificant. . My kids keep me going and their progress is the best reward ever! Being a teacher is a wonderful journey and a truly amazing experience simply because kids can be so very rewarding in their own unique way.
How do you earn your living? Have you always wanted to do the job you're doing now?
I am in Information Security for financial institutions here in the USA. I have had many roles within that relm from audit/compliance to network security monitoring. I have been at it for about 6 years and it was natural progression of my IT career in general which overall is now in its 17th year.
Great dolls! I love Katerina most!! :-)
Posted by: Jim | April 11, 2011 at 12:53 AM
I'm a cook now running my own restaurant in Sydney, Australia. But when I was 5, I wanted to be a fireman!
Posted by: Andy | April 11, 2011 at 01:14 AM
I'm an economist and have my own business. I must admit it's an exciting job but involves a lot of responsibility and travelling abroad.
Posted by: Constantinos | April 11, 2011 at 08:49 AM
Lovely dolls! A whole international clas!! I can see the tall Dutch girl in the back row :-)As you know, I work as tour operator for a large tour agency in the Netherlands and I am the area manager of Greece. I also have to travel a lot but most times I enjoy it. When I was a little girl I wanted to be a nurse but changed my mind later.
Posted by: Alexia M | April 11, 2011 at 09:22 AM
I am a civil engineer running my own business. Have you still got all these dolls?
Posted by: Lakis Ioannou | April 11, 2011 at 10:15 AM
Currently I'm unemployed and going to school (though I'm on vacation).
I used to be a copywriter and I loved doing that but the pay wasn't enough to deal with the financial crisis our family experienced before and since then my career path went into different directions.
Now I'm pursuing Nursing so I can work as a nurse.
My husband is a teacher. He teaches Music to kindergarten to 6th grade (elementary) for more than 10 years now. He is good with kids.
Are those dolls really your dolls when you were a child?
Posted by: Account Deleted | April 11, 2011 at 04:24 PM
Unfortunately, not all of them. But I've still got Eleni, Marianna and Katerina :-)
Posted by: Anastasia | April 11, 2011 at 09:36 PM
Yes, Bing. They were all mine and I have still got a few of them. As a child, I loved playing with dolls!
Posted by: Anastasia | April 11, 2011 at 09:39 PM
Wow...are these still with you? They are like United Nations...when I was a kid, I didn't have a doll until I was 8 years old. My mom had to save up to give me a doll.
Posted by: Account Deleted | April 11, 2011 at 09:50 PM
Katerina, Marianna and Eleni are still with me. Some of them got broken and I had also given away a few. Believe it or not, I used to play with my dolls till the age of 13! But the one doll you got from your mum's savings was worth a fortune! I bet you gave her so much love!
Posted by: Anastasia | April 11, 2011 at 10:08 PM
I am in the hotel business and work as the public relation officer - a job that I really enjoy very much.
Posted by: Karolina | April 12, 2011 at 08:03 AM
Buonasera Anastasia. I can understand your feelings about being a teacher because I am a teacher too. I teach art at a public high school to children from 12 to 15 years old. But my real passion is painting. As painter I have made some exhibitions in Italy but also in Spain and Portugal and I hope to do one in Germany soon.
Posted by: Lisa A | April 12, 2011 at 09:35 PM
I used to work at Eleftherios Venizelos airport in Athens as part of the ground staff. But when the great financial crisis hit Greece, I was made redundant and remained unemployed for about 8 months. Now I work as a translator online translating from Greek into English or Italian. The pay is quite satisfactory and the good thing is I can work from home.
Posted by: Christina | April 12, 2011 at 09:57 PM
Reporter on Tv. Not always easy but I love it!
Posted by: Sophia | April 12, 2011 at 10:11 PM
Je suis ingénieur et je travaille dans l'industrie automobile - ce que je trouve passionnant.
Posted by: Jean-Paul Bouvier | April 13, 2011 at 07:47 PM
Oh how I love your dolls! They're beautiful! I wish I had as many when I was a child. I guess you ARE a great teacher. I keep learning so much from you which is the main reason why I enjoy visiting your blog. I think that enjoyment and personal satisfaction should be the main factors in choosing a career. I enjoy being a psychologist and an amateur writer.
Posted by: Laura | April 13, 2011 at 08:09 PM