I always wanted to become a teacher – Sir Nick Edwards

At the end of the day, the feeling of achieving our goals is one that becomes inexpressible. The sense of mere satisfaction every time we are confronted with the results of our hard work and sacrifices is one that becomes peerless.

Sir Nick Edwards and his pupils from the Winfer Gardens Primary School

However, for the last five years, 26-year-old Nick Edwards has been living his dreams every day that he steps into his classroom to mould the minds of our future generation. 

Nick was born on the 14th November 1994, at the Mackenzie Hospital to parents Shaundell Edwards and Nick Edwards. He is the eldest of five children and grew up in the small village of Ituni, Region Ten. 

Going back down memory lane, Nick recalled that despite not coming from a wealthy background, his family always supported and maintained that his education was the number 1 priority. 

In fact, the young man pointed out that he was not as fortunate as today’s children, where they have electricity 24/7. But distinctly recalled having to study using lamps or using magazines to cut a picture for homework.

“If I am, to sum up, my childhood life, I would say it has given me the best years of my life because I was with the people I love. I spent time exploring and bonding with my friends and family.”

He added, “I was shy with strangers, but I felt serene and at home. If I were to have children of my own, I would take them to my home town to experience the happiness of a simple childhood in that small village, where family love and nature are plentiful.”

Nick attended the Ituni Nursery School and then the Howell Wilson Primary School, where he wrote the Secondary School Entrance Examination (SSEE) in 2006. 

He was awarded a place at the Mackenzie High School – the highest school within the region. He was also awarded the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs’ Hinterland Scholarship because of the area from which he came and the marks he gained.

In 2012, Nick wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), where he graduated from Mackenzie High with eleven (11) subjects. At the age of 18, Nick applied at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), where he began studying for an Associate Degree in Education.

Despite not having any teaching experience, the young man said his stint at CPCE was worth the many sacrifices. He said the skills gained, he was able to apply them in his everyday teaching experience. 

I met a diverse bunch of colleagues from across the length and breadth of Guyana. While being there, I remained very humble, which is a characteristic that I always keep maintaining, no matter what circumstance I face. While attending there, I was taught some interesting courses by individuals whom I would deem the greatest intellectuals throughout Guyana.

 He was inducted into the profession on September 1, 2015, as an Assistant Master attached to the Winfer Gardens Primary School. The young teacher said that he always had a knack for the profession and always wanted to become a teacher from the tender age of 10 years old. 

If any of my teachers asked what would you like to become while attending school, my response would always be, I would like to be a teacher. For me, I think I always had the innate ability and enthusiasm when it comes to sharing knowledge and assisting anyone. So, today I am just living my dreaming and demonstrating the passion that I possess for this noble profession.

The young educator graduated from CPCE in 2015 with a Distinction and was the best graduating pre-service student on the Associate Degree Primary Programme. He was also awarded the Best Graduating student-teacher for Region Ten. 

Not satisfied there, in 2017, the Winfer Gardens school teacher began studying for his Bachelor’s Degree in Education. He completed it in 2019 and graduated with credit. As a result, he was promoted to Graduate Assistant Master. He teaches all the subjects that fall under the Primary Curriculum. 

“Teaching is important to me for reasons that are not entirely within my understanding. I love teaching. Even when I’m exhausted, there’s something about the process of giving knowledge that is received, processed, questioned, and then given back to me that is completely invigorating. The most rewarding experience for me in this profession is when a student is pushed just a bit beyond their comfort zone and when they are able to point out my mistakes.” 

Nick continued, “When this is demonstrated, I know I’ve done my job trying to surround myself with excellence and with people I can, in turn, learn from myself as a teacher. Sometimes, effective teaching and learning aren’t entirely pleasant in the rainbows and fluffy clouds, but it is rewarding, and I know I’ve done my job effectively when all parties feel the reward.” 

Nick added that the profession he loves had become a very unsafe one where teachers have been repeatedly abused in some form. However, despite the increase in violence against teachers, Sir Edwards said that this does not deter him from carrying out the functions as an educator. 

I entered the profession not to please anyone but to ensure that the lives of our future leaders are well-shaped and rounded. As a young educator, I believe that in everything we do, we must stand strong and firm, more so, together as a team. With that being said, I believe that any challenge I am faced with, I am able to stand firm for what I believe in, and with that, I will be able to defy all odds.

Sir Edwards said that he intends to be an agent of change in the education fraternity, given that it rarely has male figures. 

The system rarely has male teachers, and my pupils view me as a role model. I do see myself not only being a classroom practitioner but moving up the highest point of the education ladder when the appropriate time arrives to possibly becoming the Minister of Education.

Sir Edwards credited his success to his family members, especially his mother Shaundell, who has been his backbone since day one. 

My grandmother (Juliet Williams) and the educators who would have played a vital role in my development and success throughout my life thus far.

Nick’s dreams and aspirations as a teacher is to foster and encourage critical thinking, mastery, competency, transformational and life-long learning among students he comes into contact with. In addition, he would be reading for his Masters in Educational Leadership in January next year, which would ultimately lead to his Doctorate in Education.