In this week's 'A Conversation With...' we hear from psychology teacher Mrs Elena Rojas, who joined the Shiplake community in September. Here we learn about what inspired her to become a teacher and her plans for the psychology department.
1. What is your role and how long have you been at Shiplake?
I joined Shiplake in September this year. I teach psychology GCSE and A-level and I am also a Year 12 tutor.
2. What were you doing before Shiplake?
I studied psychology at the University of York. After completing my PGCE in further education, I made the move from Lancashire to the south in 2019. I worked as an A-level and BTEC Psychology teacher at a school in Caversham, Reading for three years before making the move to Shiplake.
3. What is a day in the life at Shiplake like for Mrs Rojas?
No day is the same, which keeps things exciting! Sometimes the day starts with assembly or chapel. Lessons begin at 8.40am, I teach psychology to Years 10-13 as well as Year 7 PSHEE and Year 9 FPQ (Foundation Project Qualification). Free periods are spent running clinics, planning or marking. Lunch is one of the best parts of the day, catching up with the other staff members and enjoying some tasty food. After school, I’m usually involved in activities, and I have evening duty in Burr House once a week.
4. What inspired you to pursue a career in education and psychology?
I love psychology! I have been passionate about this subject since my own A-levels and during my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, my love for psychology grew. I knew I wanted to instil this enthusiasm in others, and what better way to do this than to teach it? I love that students can apply the psychological research I teach them to their own lives; to understand themselves better, aid their development and even improve their relationships with others.
5. What do you do away from work?
There’s nothing better than a long country walk followed by a nice pub lunch! My family and friends are pretty spread out around the country, so a lot of weekends involve travelling up north and catching up with them. I also have family in Spain and Germany, and I try to use half-terms to visit them. I love fitness, I try to go to the gym regularly and enjoy the occasional swim, Zumba class or bouldering session.
6. What does the future hold for Mrs Rojas?
A long and happy career teaching psychology. The community here at Shiplake is amazing, I have felt so welcomed since the first day I started. In the near future, my goal is to enhance the psychology department at Shiplake. I’m in the process of planning some exciting trips and psychology competitions to really increase the excitement around the subject.
