In this week's 'A Conversation With... ' we chatted to geography and business studies teacher Mr Werner Nel. Mr Nel worked in a range of industries before coming to teaching and talks about growing up on a farm in South Africa, which gave him many skills and experiences which have shaped the person he is today.
How long have you been at Shiplake and what is your role(s)?
I started at Shiplake in April 2017, so just over five years. I teach geography and business studies and I am also involved in the Sports Leadership programme.
What did you do previously?
I have been lucky enough to experience a variety of industries before finding my feet in teaching. They include working for a law firm, diving instructor, managing a restaurant and working at an outdoor school.
What is the best thing about Shiplake?
The way in which the teachers care for their students and want the best possible outcomes for them. Oh yes... and the view of the river.
What sparked your passion for geography and what inspired you to become a teacher?
I started teaching in a small prep school and applied for a job in the DT department. After my interview the headmaster told me that I did not get the job but asked if I would like to teach geography? I made it clear that my experience was quite limited in this subject, but he assured me that I would be great at it! From there my natural need to be good at what I do took over and I started building on my subject knowledge and I am now teaching A Level.
I became a teacher because I wanted to do something that impacted the lives of others in a positive way and then spent so much time coaching sports at schools that it made sense to get involved in teaching.
What sports do you get involved with at Shiplake and which do you like most and why?
I coach rugby and cricket, but love both for different reasons. I feel that rugby teaches you a lot about yourself and what it means to be part of a team, while cricket can be more centred around an individual while still functioning as part of a team.
Can you tell us a bit about your time growing up in South Africa?
I was very fortunate to grow up on a farm just outside of Bloemfontien (a city known for rugby and having the most restaurants per capita in the world, what can I say, we love our food and rugby). This enabled me to experience the quiet setting of farm life while attending a boarding school in a busy city. I spent most of my time working on the farm when not at school, this meant that I could drive a tractor and truck by the time I was 14, not on the roads obviously. Growing up in SA wasn't always easy, it presented challenging situations almost on a daily basis, but I would like to think that I learned from my experiences and it helped to shape me into who I am today.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love watching sports, spending time with my family and having a 'braai' [the South African equivalent of a barbecue] as often as I can. I am also not against switching on my PS5 now and then. I really am just a big kid who needs to grow up.
What does the future hold for Mr Nel?
This is a very difficult question to answer. All too often we think we have life figured out, but all it takes is a little bump in the road to remind us that life still has a few 'inswinging yorkers' up its sleeve. I would like to build on my experience at Shiplake College, learning as I go and make sure that I remind myself to stop and look outside the window every now and then to enjoy our beautiful surroundings, because life can fly by if you allow it to.
