And I once walked with a wish

in my hands, holding it tight, lest it slip away.

I wished to become a teacher before I learned to tie my shoelaces or to recite the alphabet without pausing in between letters. Even before I knew exactly what to call it. However, I was loud and clear that I would become a “lady that teaches children”. Here I am! Many years later…

The process was beautiful. I learned more than theories about language and literature. I learned about how we think, how we relate to what we think, and I met people. People who inspired me! It all started, naturally, in nursery, a stage that bored me terribly. Primary school and middle school slowly, but surely became fascinating because I had the chance to work with teachers who showed more confidence in me than I ever could imagine. High school, a tumultuous time as it was for many, ended with success. I graduated from the “Andrei Șaguna” National College in Brașov at the head of my generation and continued my studies at the Faculty of Letters of the University of Bucharest.

Well, this period was one that I could hardly describe in a few words: from the literary discussions during breaks with Bogdan Coșa, Ștefan Firică, Cosmin Ciotloș, Delia Ungureanu, Ioana Pârvulescu and Mircea Cărtărescu, to the beautiful perspectives on language offered by Adina Dragomirescu, Alexandru Nicolae, Emil Ionescu or Rodica Zafiu. In the early years of university, recommended by the teacher who coordinated our English language practice seminar, I started translating for the international literary magazine Contemporay Literary Horizon and soon became a poetry translator with three published volumes. During this period, I also completed level I of the psycho-pedagogical training programme and coordinated two educational programs at the Museum of Art in Brasov. I felt how, gradually, my desire was turning into reality. At the same time, I was aware of the pivotal role I was to play in the formation of young characters and I became scared.

(It had slipped once – and rolled 

on the floor. I wiped it off neatly with the sleeve of my coat,

I wasn’t afraid. Wishes are balls – 

they never break. Only if I drop them, 

out of my hands, they can roll far away.)

I graduated with a 9.95/10 GPA and decided to let my desire roll around a bit. And it rolled so far that I enrolled at the Carol I National Defence University (Intercultural Communication in Security and Defence). I was admitted with an average of 10/10 and graduated top of my class. The experiences during this short break helped me to become a complex teacher. I was a scholarship student at the Cyprus University of Technology, where I studied radio, moderated a show and was part of the production team for a film I would love to watch together. I got a bit of courage and decided it was time to go back pursuing my dream.

I returned to the Faculty of Letters, where I was a scholarship holder in the Master’s programme in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics. I participated in colloquia, won prizes for my work, published articles both in linguistics volumes and in journals such as OPTMotive or Observator cultural. I have completed level II of the psycho-pedagogical training programme and attended specialisation courses in Geneva and Vienna.

It was with excitement that I met my first students at the American International School of Bucharest with whom I tied a friendship beyond the protocol of the school walls. Today, I look forward to meeting you, dear students of Avenor College! I am your new Romanian language and literature teacher and proud homeroom teacher of  the 9th grade Delta students. I want us to be a team that discovers fascinating pages of literature, curiosities about the language, but most of all, a team, where everyone discovers their own voice and learns the style in which they will use this invaluable instrument. I wish you to discover your desires and learn together to make them turn into reality! Because …

And I, too, once walked with a wish 

in my arms – (and I thought, smiling

that in a famous book, I don’t remember who

walked with his own head in hell, lighting up

his way). And it can be done!

(adapted from Mircea Ivănescu, But there are true memories too)