Western Bureau:

ALL OF HER life Monica Bulgin wanted to be a teacher. In fact, she remembers writing an essay in Grade 2 stating her intention of pursuing the career that would consume more than half of her life.

"I was just a little girl," Bulgin recalled. "And the teacher told us to write an essay on what we wanted to do when we grew up and I wrote that I wanted to be a teacher."

She began her career in 1974 as a pre-trained teacher at the Salt Spring All-Age School when she was 18 years old and has been teaching ever since. She admits that she has eyed a career in business but never gave it serious thought. "Teaching is my love," she said.

Why?

"Well, first of all, I always used to admire my teachers," she said. "I always admired their deportment and the way they did things. So I thought I wanted to be like them."

Love for kids

She added that her love for children was the other incentive that kept her in the job. "I simply love children," she said with conviction in her voice. "I love to see them achieve. I like to see when they start doing something and they complete it successfully."

Although teaching the younger generation has been her life's work, when the opportunity presented itself to further her studies Bulgin did not hesitate. She enrolled in Sam Sharpe Teachers College in 1975. In 1978, she returned for upgrading and in 1999 attended the University of the West Indies where she earned a degree with first class honours.

She began teaching at the Somerton All-Age School in St. James in 1978, and has been teaching there ever since.

Bulgin said that her biggest challenge in teaching has to do with the behaviour of some students. However, she said she overcomes this problem by developing a good relationship with the students and their parents. "I also make a set of rules at the beginning of each year and I make sure that these rules are kept through the rest of the year," she said.

She said the role of parents is crucial to the education process. "Parents have to monitor their children, make sure they do their homework, attend school regularly," she said. "They must make sure that their children study because studying is very, very important."

Besides teaching Bulgin is also the assistant pastor of the Somerton Apostolic Church. She said her call to be a pastor stems from her passion for helping people. "I really love helping people," she said. "As a Christian and one who follows Jesus, is it natural to copy him and be concerned about your brothers and sisters."

In recognition for her dedication to the teaching profession, Bulgin recently won the 'Teacher of the Year' and the 'Punctuality' awards at the annual prizegiving ceremony at the Somerton All-Age School.