Studying as a musician and expanding into education, gaining a PGCE through Teach First, my focus had always been to bring my creative experience into the classroom. I love everything about the classroom, but the opportunity and privilege to share my subject knowledge and passion for music and art with young creatives made it all the more rewarding. When one of my GCSE music students once asked on a Monday morning after I returned to the classroom from a weekend of performance, "do you think you're a musician or a teacher?" I immediately responded, "both; I don’t think I could do one without the other”. Over the years, I've had the privilege of guiding students in various creative disciplines, specialising in music while also teaching art and textiles, eventually leading as the Head of Department for Music.My personal interest in Photoshop and digital art, which really began during my university years, quickly evolved into an important part of my career alongside teaching, taking on commissioned projects and enjoying opportunities to skill share with both adults and my students within school settings. Teaching online in 2020 prompted me to explore further into video editing and animation, ultimately leading to a significant career shift when I said “yes” to the right opportunity at the right time with Mirage Shows & Productions.Since stepping out of a full time teaching career, while I still have a heart for education and enjoy the curricular freedom of teaching privately, I have now found fulfilment as a freelance creative. I'm grateful for all of the seemingly small chances to follow my gut and say “yes” over the years, which have turned out to be not-so-small and led me to opportunities quite a way from my much-loved classrooms! Whether it be providing outsourced photo and video editing services, designing digital theatre backdrops onboard MS Borealis, taking on corporate design projects or going back to my roots by leading a music workshop, the creative freedom and flexibility I’ve found just feels right.