A desire to help young people become critical thinkers prompted freelance science communicator Myles Gough to change careers and begin an online teaching degree with the University of New England.
"In teaching students about the past, literature and the power of language, I want to broaden their perspectives and capacity for empathy,” said Myles, who is now a secondary English and history teacher. “I want to provide young people with a deeper understanding of a range of complex issues that directly, and indirectly, impact their lives.
“Everyone has had an amazing teacher who made a difference in their life. Maybe they listened, or helped out at the right time, or believed in you when nobody else did, or gave you an opportunity, or nudged you in the right direction on an important decision."
"If I can be that teacher, even for just one student, this career change will have been worth it!”
As a freelance journalist, Myles wrote science and technology-based articles for respected publications such as Cosmos, Nature, BBC and Guardian Australia.
Myles is also a talented amateur distance runner who represented UNE at the 2018 Blackmores Running Festival, one of the country’s premier distance running events, where he completed the half-marathon in a time of 01:13:47. His effort won him a gold medal in the Unisport rankings – a significant achievement for someone who only took up long-distance running 12 months prior.
“Balancing my running with work and study is challenging, but it's all about making the activity part of your daily routine and having realistic goals, so training doesn't dominate your life. I'm lucky to have a very supportive wife, who is also a runner and swimmer. She lets me escape, guilt-free, for long runs when I'm training hard and doesn't judge my ridiculously huge appetite. I've also been lucky, as a freelance writer and online student, to have a flexible schedule,” Myles said.
Myles recently finished in the top 10 in the 2019 Canberra Marathon with a time of 02:39:45 – beating his goal of 02:40. It was the first time he ran the marathon distance of 42.2 km.
His dedication to achieving personal goals was also evident in his studies. Myles maintained a high distinction average throughout his Master’s degree and was the recipient of an Australian Government Endeavour Mobility Scholarship, which enabled him to participate in a teaching exchange to the Kingdom of Bhutan.
“UNE has been a great fit for me as a mature-age student, looking to upskill and gain a professional teaching qualification. The University was helpful when it came to recognising and accommodating my previous studies from my undergraduate studies in Canada, and building a unit calendar that enabled me to seamlessly get the additional English units I required, without needing to extend the duration of my degree. The online delivery was flexible and the trimester schedule enabled me to complete my Master’s degree in less than two years.”
Myles will be awarded his Masters of Education at UNE’s Autumn Graduation next month. He is currently teaching English and History at Amity College, Illawarra.
