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Molly Blaser graduated from UEA in 2019 with a BA in History. She now teaches Religion, Philosophy and Ethics at a Secondary School. These are Molly’s reflections on studying at UEA and embarking on a career in teaching.
I can look back at my time at UEA with great pleasure. The support of the school is immense, and you have the incredible support of the amazing lecturers and support team.
I graduated from UEA in 2019. When I came to UEA, I knew I wanted to be a teacher and due to the support of my History teacher chose History. I expected myself to specialise in curriculum heavy topics like WW1, Revolutionary Russia, and Nazi Germany. Instead, I was able to find my niche and complete research in aspects of history I never expected to have an opportunity to learn and specialise in. My Special Subject, ‘Sex, Drugs, Rock ‘n’ Roll: 60s Britain’, was a personal favourite that allowed me to combine my love of 60s music, fashion, and academia- to the point that I absolutely loved writing my essays and completing seminar prep (which was a rarity!).
Upon my graduation, I left UEA to work in finance for Mercedes-Benz in Berlin. I wanted a change of scenery and did not feel ready to teach, but one pandemic later I moved back to Essex and begun teacher training in History. I am so grateful for the breadth of options at UEA because it has given me the preparation to switch subjects to Religion, Philosophy and Ethics. In nearly all my essays, I unintentionally focused on either religious responses, philosophical attitudes, or ethical issues in the period of history being studied. All this knowledge has become the building base of my teaching today. My dissertation under Cathie Carmichael allowed me to combine my interests in religion and the Holocaust that has been since used to plan a module for my Year 8s alongside Kate Ferguson’s inspiring module Human Rights: the History of an idea. I would never have thought I would have become an RPE teacher but looking back it is as if UEA knew exactly what I wanted from my life before I did.
I can look back at my time at UEA with great pleasure. The support of the school is immense, and you have the incredible support of the amazing lecturers and support team. During my third year, I was the Academic Officer of the History Society, and this allowed me to get to know the ins and outs of the department and have the best experiences within the school. I am forever grateful for my time at UEA and thankful for the ongoing support I received.