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By Angela Voht
For as long as she can remember Sarah West has wanted to be involved in education.
“To me, nothing is more important than helping future generations become the best that they can be. I hope to find a way to make education a life-long ambition for all students,“ says West, the 2007 recipient of the Maxwell Cameron Medal in secondary education.
West arrived at UVic with a BSc degree in chemistry from St. Francis Xavier University. From Nova Scotia she moved to Canmore, AB, and finally found her way over the Rocky Mountains to arrive in Victoria and complete a certificate in education, and then a BA in education.
As a female science teacher, West hopes to inspire others to work in fields that are still considered by some to be non-traditional. “I also hope to incorporate my international travel experiences with teaching,” West says.
And so far, West has received high accolades for her achievements as a student herself, earning a GPA of 8.65 out of a possible 9.0, and for demonstrating excellent teaching skills and a willingness to immerse herself in the activities of teaching. She contributed many hours of extra time at her practicum school tutoring students before classes and at lunchtime, organizing and supervising basketball, coaching soccer and learning how to teach hearing-impaired students.
With plans to continue teaching in the Greater Victoria School District, West is currently spending her time as a substitute teacher in Victoria while also working as an active travel company guide for biking and hiking groups around the world.
To what does she attribute her successes? “My husband, friends and family give me incredible support, and my family instilled the value of education in me from a very early age.”
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