Written by: Eva Grzegorczyk
The start of the new school year has welcomed many new staff members to BISB. Chemistry has been a widely popular subject among most students, as the interdisciplinary connections are hard to miss. Its application to real-world situations and sciences has made it an invaluable subject to those pursuing a path in academia. This year, the chemistry department has gained two new members, Ms. Patrick and Mr. Brett. We are excited to see how new perspectives will superimpose on pre-existing ones, and how critical thinking skills will improve with the additional support from this much-loved subject.
We sat down with Mr. Brett to hear about his journey to BISB, and how he is experiencing the changes.
Tell us about yourself.
I’ve been teaching for five years, but before I had various jobs. Most recently, I was a real estate agent in Hartley Whitney in England, where I grew up. I used to have a business washing car windshields, then I was a bartender, worked as a night guard in a hotel, worked in a garden center, and worked for a bit at a hotel in Melbourne to serve breakfast to rich people.
Where did you teach previously?
I worked at the Langdon Academy in London Eastham.
Did you always want to become a teacher?
I did; however, I was planning on doing it when I was much older. My uncle and my grandfather both became teachers when they were older. I wanted to ensure I had enough industry experience before becoming a teacher if that makes sense.
What made you want to come to BISB?
My wife wanted to travel, and when she got a position to work in Boston, it all kind of lined up, and we took a chance and went for it.
How are you enjoying BISB so far?
Oh, it’s been great. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming and friendly, and the students are really fun to teach. It’s a good environment, although it’s a new challenge for me. There are some tricky parts, but overall it’s been a really good experience.
Have you ever taught at an International School before?
No, this is my first one.
What do you like about teaching at an International School?
It’s incredibly different from what I’m used to. There’s a higher value to education the students seem to be aware of. They know the importance of the education they’re receiving. This isn’t always the case in public schools. The teachers are organized, the number of students per class is also a factor, and there’s a large mix of backgrounds.
What was your high school experience like?
Not great, I would say. I didn’t do very well in Years 12 and 13. It was difficult for me to retain information, and I wasn’t prepared to revise at all.
Did you always know you wanted to be a chemist?
My favorite subject in school was always chemistry, but I did want to be a marine biologist and got a degree in that subject. I switched to chemistry, though, because there wasn’t enough job variety, and that field is extremely expensive.
Do you have any advice for our students?
Look at what other people are doing, how they’re succeeding, and emulate that. Talk to them and do what they’re doing. Be collaborative and help each other out. Oh, and also learn how to revise. My parents never went to college, so they never taught me how to do it. Learn how to revise, and your life will be so much easier.
We thank Mr. Brett for his time and are thrilled to have him join the BISB community!