After Years in Kuwait, I’m Back in Jamaica: Key Lessons from My Journey

After 6 years teaching in Kuwait, I’m back in Jamaica. 

If you’ve been here for a while, you’d know I left Jamaica for Kuwait in 2018. My time there has been life-changing; I’ve learnt and grown so much, both personally and professionally. 

Now that I’ve returned to Jamaica, I’m eager to share some of these experiences with fellow educators, hoping my story inspires others to embrace change and explore opportunities beyond the classroom.

Why I left Kuwait: A career-defining decision

Leaving Kuwait was not an easy decision, but it was one I had to make. There were three main factors driving my choice to return home. 

First, I had grown tired of the constant travel. Long flights back and forth were physically draining, and I found myself longing for the comfort of home more frequently. Secondly, I started feeling deeply homesick. I missed being present with my family during important moments. 

Despite these personal reasons, the main factor was that I had achieved what I set out to do in Kuwait. Career-wise, I had grown, developed new skills, and gained experiences I couldn’t have gotten anywhere else. But I reached a point where I knew staying there any longer would keep me stagnant. I realised I needed to leave Kuwait to unlock the next chapter of my career.

The Transition: A balancing act of fear and confidence

Transitioning out of Kuwait was a mix of emotions. Personally, I was terrified. One of my primary motivations for going to Kuwait had been to improve my financial situation, so I worried about how leaving might affect that stability. However, on the professional front, I was confident. I knew it was time to take on new challenges and that leaving was a step forward, not a setback.

Shifting My Perspective on Education and Professional Development

In case you're wondering why professionally I was confident, it's because the experiences I had in Kuwait didn’t just help me grow — they transformed my entire view of education. 

I no longer believe in the traditional "chalk and talk" method. My teaching philosophy now revolves around creating impactful learning experiences, where students leave a lesson feeling empowered to apply their knowledge to solve real-world problems. I want learning to transcend the classroom, giving students tools they can use throughout their lives.

As educators, we can’t afford to stop learning. Professional development is crucial. Whether you’re in education or another field, the truth remains the same: If we don’t continue to develop new skills, we will stagnate. The world around us is evolving, and it’s our responsibility to keep up if we want to stay relevant.

Key lessons I’ve learned during my time in Kuwait

My time in Kuwait taught me three major lessons that have shaped my approach to career growth:

Be brave

Moving to a Middle Eastern country with a vastly different culture was initially scary. Still, it’s precisely in these moments of fear and uncertainty that I learnt to summon courage I didn’t even know I had. 

It wasn’t just about adapting to new foods, customs, or weather; it was also about navigating an entirely new way of living. 

I had to build connections from scratch, learn how to communicate across cultural divides and trust in my own abilities to thrive in a foreign environment. This bravery has been transformative, impacting not just my personal life but my career as well. 

I now approach every new project or challenge with the mindset that if I could conquer life in Kuwait, I can handle anything that comes my way. The confidence I gained from pushing through the discomfort of being far from home has become one of my greatest assets, both in the classroom and beyond.

Embrace a growth mindset

One of the most liberating lessons I learnt in Kuwait was the power of a growth mindset. And if you’ve been keeping up with Waltech, you know we endorse the embrace of a growth mindset. 

In an environment filled with international educators and a diversity of ideas, I realised that staying stagnant wasn’t an option. I saw firsthand how stepping out of your comfort zone and taking on challenges that stretch your capabilities is the key to realising new opportunities. 

From learning how to incorporate new technologies into my teaching to adapt to different classroom dynamics, I embraced the idea that I didn’t know it all — and that was perfectly okay. 

This openness allowed me to experiment with new teaching strategies and grow as an educator in ways I wouldn’t have back home. What stood out most is that in international settings, your skills can be valued in ways you may not expect. Skills I took for granted in Jamaica were recognised as unique strengths abroad. Staying visible, sharing ideas, and applying my expertise in new contexts enabled me to grow in confidence and expand my professional reach.

Sign up for Waltech’s free growth mindset course. 

Collaborate

Working alongside people from various cultures and backgrounds taught me the value of collaboration. Each person brought a distinct cultural perspective and set of experiences to the table. 

This melting pot of ideas further broadened my understanding of education and enriched my teaching approach. I learnt that real growth happens when we are open to learning from others and working together toward shared goals. 

Whether it was collaborating with fellow teachers to implement new curriculum strategies or exchanging ideas with students on different ways of learning, I discovered that collaboration opens doors to creativity and innovation. 

It’s through collaboration that I developed a deeper respect for the strength of diversity and realised that the most effective solutions often emerge from collective input rather than individual effort. This realisation has shaped my teaching philosophy and informed how I approach teamwork in all aspects of my career.

Advice for educators

For any educator considering a significant career change, I encourage you to be open to the possibilities that lie ahead. Don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone; this is where growth happens. 

Evaluate your skills and see how they can be applied in different contexts. Network with professionals in areas you’re interested in, and take the time to learn new skills that align with your goals. 

Trust in your ability to adapt, and remember that the competencies you’ve developed in the classroom — communication, problem-solving, leadership — are highly transferable and valued in many other roles.

Moving Forward: What’s Next for Me?

As I continue my journey, my goal is clear: to take on leadership roles and focus on building my entrepreneurial projects. I want to create initiatives that foster innovation in education and provide educators with the tools and support they need for professional growth. 

I aspire to be a thought leader in this field, driving meaningful change and improving learning outcomes on a larger scale. 

I will continue to embrace Waltech as a community that empowers educators to push past their limits, inspiring growth and learning beyond traditional boundaries. Keep up with us by:

• Subscribing to our newsletter

• Accessing our free courses and resources

• Exploring how we can support your growth

  
  

Thanks for reading. If you have any questions about my transition, time in Kuwait, or the lessons I've learnt  along the way, feel free to ask — I’d love to share more!