Former learner shares her journey at Cedarwood School as she returns as a teacher
‘The memories, the warmth, and the same nurturing environment that once helped me thrive now surround me again, this time as a professional in training.’
There are moments in life that bring everything full circle, where the path you once walked, as a learner, becomes the path you now guide as a teacher.
Former Cedarwood School learner, now teacher, Katie Turner writes:
Walking back into Cedarwood School, not as the little girl who once needed academic support, but as the young woman now offering support, has been one of the most powerful and rewarding experiences of my life.
Returning to Cedarwood, I carry with me the spirit of its motto: ‘Be the best that you can be’. This is a journey shaped by resilience, purpose, and the unwavering belief that, with the right support, anything is possible.
My name is Katie Turner, and I attended Cedarwood School from 2014 to 2016 during Grades 5 to 7. Today, I am a fourth-year education student at the University of Pretoria (Tuks), currently completing my final teaching practicals, and I could not be prouder to be doing my practicals at my alma mater.
Cedarwood was a place that changed the entire course of my life. As a learner with dyslexia, I faced academic struggles that often left me feeling frustrated, overlooked, and misunderstood. However, from the moment I walked through the doors of Cedarwood, I was met with understanding, encouragement, and a belief in my potential, which I hadn’t found anywhere else.
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Cedarwood taught me that there is nothing wrong with me. It was here that I discovered my strength, embraced my uniqueness, and slowly began to rebuild my confidence. The experience was so transformational that it sparked a calling deep within me. I knew I wanted to become a teacher. I want to be the change in even one child’s life, the way Cedarwood was the change for me.
Every child deserves an education where they feel accepted, safe, and supported, and I hope to be that place for them. My own academic struggles have given me a deep sense of empathy and understanding for the challenges they may face.
Now, in my final year at Tuks, I’ve been fortunate to pass each year with distinction, and was honoured to receive membership to the Golden Key International Honours Society in 2024.
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Coming back to Cedarwood School as a student teacher has been a true full-circle moment. It feels like my home away from home. The memories, the warmth, and the same nurturing environment that once helped me thrive now surround me again, this time as a professional in training.
Seeing Cedarwood School now, through the eyes of a teacher, rather than a learner, has given me a whole new appreciation for the dedication, care, and hard work happening behind the scenes.
I will always be grateful for the safe space it gave me, the resilience it taught me, and the purpose it helped me find… For that, I will always carry this school in my heart, with pride, with gratitude, and with the deepest sense of belonging.
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