5 Questions with Lydia Baker

Everyone you encounter has a story; Lydia Baker’s is one of strength. It came to a point where she was tired of being in situations that required her to be strong. One such is her having to remain unemployed for three years after college. She became physically sick. However, as a young woman with strength and vigour to excel and inspire, she overcame. Over time, she grew in her love and passion for teaching. She also succeeded in other areas; Lydia is currently the author of three books and a YouTuber. Today, with added privilege, Education Jamaica Magazine will be sharing not only Lydia’s answers to our usual five questions but a part of her story that she shared with us. Be inspired!

My professional journey

I have found my niche! Teaching is like my mafia. I know too much; I just can't get out. My journey was fate and not necessarily intentional. Whatever label it goes by, it started long before the epiphany of being an official, professional classroom teacher. As a child, I would be seen teaching inanimate objects. After leaving high school, Knox College, life's Compass would have led me to Catholic College, where I pursued a Diploma in Primary Education. After graduation, I struggled to gain employment. I later migrated to Kingston and found a job at a prep school where I taught grade 5, Spanish and Computer. I acquired a wealth of experience as I dabbled in all aspects of the school's life. It was six years later I gained employment at a ministry paid job. During that same period, I was accepted into Mico University. I taught a critical age group as that was the last batch of GSAT students I taught in grade 6. I currently work at St. Richard's Primary School, gaining new experiences and learning as I teach.

Most fulfilling about being an educator.

I relish in my teaching profession when I see students bloom academically and holistically enriched. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing students succeed knowing that you somehow contributed to it.

What inspired me to become an author

Writing has always been a hobby of mine. I have written poems, songs, stories and even prayers during my period of unemployment. During the lockdown, I started writing more to keep my mind preoccupied from the noisy confusion of a pandemic. So I thought, why not publish it. I did my research, and that was it.

My book entitled Away from School

One of my books is called Away from School. It was written at the beginning of the pandemic. It is a children's fun literature book about some students prior to the onset of the covid-19 pandemic; we’re tired of going to school. The novel Coronavirus had caused A disruption of physical School as they knew it. The children were happy at first; however, like Christmas every day, the fun things lost their usual appeal. They were tired of watching television and playing video games. They longed to go to school to play with friends. It was then that they found a way to rid the world of the dreaded virus by creating a superhero from recyclables; superhero antivirus is what they called him. The storyline can be identified with and was quite relevant.

Balance of doing so many things.

I was once asked, “why do you keep yourself so occupied? What is it that you are hiding from?" Truth be told, I like to be productive and improve myself. I make a schedule, and the satisfaction of completing a task gives me further drive. I try to work smarter and not necessarily harder, and I consider them hobbies, so I have fun while doing them. When I finish one task, I rest and off to the next.

Lydia’s story after being unemployed for three years

I relocated to Kingston, where I got a job that was paying me enough to keep afloat, but I was gaining experience. I did four jobs in one for minimum wage: secretary, grade 5, Computer, and Spanish teacher. I was tired, but I rested three years, right? I had a diploma from one of the best yet most undermined colleges: Catholic College of Mandeville. Everywhere I sought employment, I was told they never knew about it and if it was accredited.

Nonetheless, after moving, I launched into a Government job in 2017 (yeah me!). I taught GSAT students. This same year I got through for the Mico University. Imagine teaching a critical grade level and studying while still having anxiety attacks. There were nights leaving Mico, I would have to be sitting on buckets and crates of the vendors downtown while waiting on the bus to take me home because I would be so close to passing out. The school principal told me I didn’t show him I wanted the job. He told me to resign and threatened to spoil my reputation and put things on my file at the ministry. When I told him 2nd Baker 3 verse 5, “no principal formed against me shall prosper and every ink that writes against me shall dry up, he dismissed me from the job. So I started seeking employment. Fast forward, I am at St. Richard’s Primary School presently, where I enjoy my job and do so well at it, I am told. I channelled my energy into the creatives. I write poems, stories for my class and songs. Then I had my first self-published book on Amazon entitled Away From School.

While persons were complaining about the lockdown, I was writing. I also wrote a Jamaican book called Easy Nuh Jamaican Yutes. I then started an online tutoring service, “Baker’s Tutor services.”And one day, as I sat and watched On Stage with Winford Williams, the idea struck me about having a Youtube channel where I interview teachers. I called it The Teachers Space.