'I quit my stressful teaching job after going on a life-changing holiday'
A school teacher has handed in her chalk and closed her register after going on a life-changing holiday.
Ellen Pearce decided to quit the classroom after embarking on a post-lockdown holiday that completely altered her perspective on life. The 25-year-old from Somerset had got serious itchy feet during the pandemic and so decided to take a six-week holiday.
What began in Canada and the US led her to Peru, Costa Rica, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Philippines and Indonesia. Ellen loved exploring so much that she decided not to go back to school, instead continuing on what she described as a 'grown up gap year'.
"As soon as borders began to open slightly I was off. I did struggle to find insurance that covered me for Covid but True Traveller was one of the only companies that would offer this and I am so pleased they did because this granted me my freedom to the world. After lockdown I began to travel to countries where borders had opened," Ellen told the Mirror.
Ellen decided to quit her teacher job after going travelling (Supplied)
Now she arranges holidays for others (Supplied)"What was supposed to be a six-week trip turned into a year, where I travelled and worked in Australia, including working on a sailboat in the Great Barrier Reef as well as visiting countries such as Fiji. Most recently, since building my business and being able to work remotely I have travelled to Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Maldives. I do love budget travelling but now since being in the business I have very much enjoyed experiencing a bit of luxury along the way."
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Stepping away from her professional life was not easy for Ellen, given how much she enjoyed working with kids. But she felt she had to make a change because of how difficult to job had become.
"I am a primary teacher by trade and I love teaching, just not everything that comes along with it," she explained. "Making a difference in a child's life is the most rewarding thing but I am sure that most teachers will agree that teaching is now far more than that. There is the endless amount of paperwork, the never ending to do list, increasing stress and pressures which I could feel burning me out and tainting my love for the profession."
Having experienced a new side of life during her year of travelling, Ellen decided she would pursue a career without those downsides when she got back. "I sought a career in something that I enjoy just as much, can control and can also revolve around my travel," she said.
The keen explorer set about setting up her own business which allows her to travel and teach others how best to visit different parts of the world.
"I now organise travel for others. It has involved acquiring my travel agent's licenses from a host company so that I am ABTA and ATOL protected to book travel for other people and have access to incredible systems with 90+ suppliers so that I can get competitive deals for clients. Although I use a host agency, my business is in my own name and I am my own boss so I can work where, when and however much I like," Ellen explained.
"I have also started hosting group tours around the world which I book and package together. This is something very close to my heart, as I truly believe everyone should travel and experience the world at least once in their lives.
"In December I will be taking a group to Iceland to experience this magical winter wonderland and get us in the Christmas spirit. I have always been the planner of the group and by creating my own group tours which I host, I want to help others experience the world too and take part in bucket list experiences and activities along the way."
As she built up her business Ellen kept one foot in the classroom as a supply teacher. "This is something I have loved doing because I can get all the joys of teaching without the stress and pressure plus, I can get on a plane and travel whenever I wish," she added.
"Teaching is something that will always be there and I will be qualified to do. Since starting my business I still keep my toe in the water and supply teach when I am back in the UK. I very much live every day as it comes, but in the next year I see myself teaching less and focusing on the business."
Ellen is not the only one stepping away from the full-time profession. UK state schools are finder it harder and harder to keep teachers. Among newly-qualified teachers, 12.8% are now leaving a year after qualifying, compared to 12.5% the year before, according to Schools Week.
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The percentage leaving after two years also grew, from 17.3 to 19.9%. Department for Education data show that vacancies for both full and part-time roles doubled in the two years to November 2022. After a long running strike by a number of teaching unions over pay and conditions, four of the biggest accepted the government's 6.5% pay rise in July.
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