Hi Mother goose! I'm currently doing my dip ed in secondary teaching (biology science)

its heavy going. I did it part time, so the theory components last year and this semester i'm doing placements. Being pregnant really complicated things but never mind LOL There have been lots of essays and research for assessment, and lots of admin to do with placements on top of that (police checks, organising 5 community experience days, reporting etc etc). I feel so behind the 8 ball, stressed and like i am not keeping up with everything, but just managing to stay afloat. I have a 1000 word essay due in a week which i havent started, and i'm still organising my paperwork for professional experience as a priority even though thats not for assessment! That could just be my uni but. I have no idea what school i am going to yet - find that out next week, just before i start my first official student teacher day - its crazy!

BUT i am learning lots, i still feel passionate that i'm doing the right career now, still feel positive about it all - hopefully placements and the teenagers wont change that LOL. Its scary but exciting, and it just feels so noble and worthwhile to me....but then you are a nurse so you have that already... Its something thats been seriously lacking in my career so far - pride in what i am doing...and belief...passion.

I didnt get to choose subject per se, they looked at my degree and said I qualified for biology as i'd done the required number of units in second and third years, I missed out on chemistry by one subject at second year and one at third year level...
I'd assume you would have plenty of health/biology subjects though....

Politics - well just starting to get into all of that. With the Draft National curriculum coming out, its a political minefield....i hate politics so i am laughing at myself for thinking this was somehow better than the public service!!!! I'll concentrate on the teaching for now i think!!!!

Schools obviously have their own politics too but i havent experienced that yet - ask me ina month's time and i'll have one school to base my opinions on!

I am getting the picture its a 24/7 job and not 8-3 like everyone assumes, and "you get heaps of holidays!' sounds like a funny thing people say to stir you because they dont really know how much work teachers have to do.

the only other thing i'd say is i am glad not to be doing primary school teaching - they have to teach everything and that must be so so hard....i cant imagine having a curriculum that expects me to teach Indigenous studies and history as well as maths science etc etc. when my passion is with sciences and my history knowledge is zilch. I think primary school teachers have a really hard job...

Anything else you want to know from a student perspective, i'll be happy to answer