Meryl Spiers

Ashfield Girls' High

School website: www.ashfieldgirls.org
Subject or primary school year: Classroom Assistant Year 12.
Your place of birth: Belfast.
Studied at: Lisnasharragh High/Castlereagh College.
First job: Lisnasharragh PS.
What it taught me: That I was capable of more than I thought.
Family/status: Married with two children.
Best advice you could give someone thinking of a teaching career If you are thinking of becoming a classroom assistant and think, I could never do that, just go for it, be yourself and establish a good relationship with your child/young person.  You will be of more value than you will ever know.

I started with Brooke when she was in P3 at Lisnasharragh PS.  This was my first job as a CA, although I had been known to the school as both a parent and as a Volunteer Reading Partner for many years.  I fully got into the way of the school and soon built up a good relationship with Brooke.  This continued throughout primary school and her mum asked if I could follow on into Ashfield with her.  Going to a high school I knew would be different, but Ashfield made it happen and I am so glad I came with Brooke.  I have watched her grow as a young person and she has worked so hard.  We have an excellent relationship and I know I support her in so many ways, not just academically. I am proud to be her classroom assistant and proud of myself for 'giving it a go' all those years ago.