Teacher Tag: Ms Walk
Interviewed by Ruwan Jinadasa, Mily Gu and Shan Balakid
DISCLAIMER: We did this interview outside in the quad because social distancing! However, since it was quite a windy day, the recording mostly picked up the wind, making it hard to hear Ms Walk’s responses :( So we’d like to apologise as we were unable to transcribe exactly every word she said due to the bad audio quality. But, we hope that you enjoy reading this issue’s Teacher Tag!
I: How is your first year at UniHigh!!
Ms Walk: It’s amazing! Haven’t been able to be physically in the classroom as much, but yeah great school - I love it!
I: How has COVID impacted your experience?
Ms Walk: Oh, oh my god... Well, in my classes we’ve been doing art activities online and corona really impacted the way we had to do hands on stuff with everyone. We’ve been using materials we have at home - which is actually pretty good. People have been making some really interesting artworks because not everyone has the same stuff.
I: Did you have plans for this year that were cancelled due to corona?
Ms Walk: Um no not really. But I did miss out on seeing friends and family… (Ms Walk continued to talk about something else but the wind decided to make it’s feature)
I: Before coming to Uni High, did you teach at a different school?
Ms Walk: Actually no! I haven’t as Uni High is actually my first school as a teacher. In terms of my first year of teaching, I guess during these ‘unprecedented’ times… (The wind was jealous again and wanted to be interviewed).
I: What’s your favourite thing about UniHigh?
Ms Walk: I love all the programs here. I also love the no uniforms here too.
I: How did you get into media?
Ms Walk: I’ve always had a love for photography, advertising and those types of areas. In high school media was also my favourite subject too haha! When I got into uni I did things related to journalism, and videos and video analysis. Then I did a couple of jobs that involved media. (She continued to talk about the different jobs she had in this industry however the audio decided to capture only the wind and some screaming kids). After that I thought wow! I think I’d rather teach media instead.
I: So when you were younger did you always want to do something related to media?
Ms Walk: So my dream dream job was to be a photographer - a very hard industry to break into. I also really liked advertising and I enjoyed vis com. So yeah, I think I’ve always wanted to be in this department.
I: Do you do photography as a hobby on the side now?
Ms Walk: Yeah! More as a passion now. Love photo editing and that sort of thing too.
You should run like an Instagram photography account! Then you can link it to UBIQUE!
Yeah! That sounds awesome!
I: Who are your Role models (current or in the past)?
Ms Walk: Ooooo role models. I think I had a history teacher in high school that I really looked up to, she was a really good teacher. She taught me how to reference, I know it sounds really nerdy but it was super useful. And definitely my media teacher, one of the people who really put me in this area and this passion. When I was in school I really wanted to do two subjects but they clashed at the same time, so my media teacher was like “come to media you can do photography in media!” and I really felt I belonged there. I really loved media, you know, finding out how the media manipulates you or tries to get you to do something or buy something and yeah.
I: Do you have a favourite photographer or favourite piece of art?
Ms Walk: Yeah! I have a favourite director, Greta Gerwig, she directed Ladybird, Little Women, yeah. I’m obsessed with her right now!
SAOIRSE RONAN IN LADYBIRD
I: What's a current song or artist you are obsessed with?
Ms Walk: Not really, I mean I’m a bit of a film nerd. I stick to the director Damien Chazelle, who did Whiplash or La La Land, I’ve been listening to a lot of soundtracks Yeah, I don't really listen to a lot of music, I listen to a lot of soundtracks.
I: What’s your favourite book?
Ms Walk: Oooo favourite movie! Ummmm it would probably have to be Ladybird! I’ve seen it a lot of times. I also really like the director Joe Wright, he did Nosedive for Black Mirror.
I: Do you have a favourite genre for movies or films?
Ms Walk: (unfortunately the wind was really strong and messed up the audio so we couldn’t hear what Ms Walk answered in the interview, but we remember some so here’s what she said!)
She doesn’t really have a favourite genre for movies, however she really loves films that use colour in interesting ways. Such as Ladybird and Little Women. She also loves films that use composition, set-up and mise-en-scene in interesting ways to enhance the film.
I: Where are some places you have travelled to before?
Ms Walk: I haven’t really travelled yet. That was definitely something on my bucket list for the next couple of years. I had a trip to Europe in the works with a couple of friends hahahaha luckily we hadn’t booked anything yet but we were definitely starting to map out everything like going to France, Italy haha
I: Did you do any languages in high school?
Ms Walk: I did Indonesian. I didn’t carry it onto VCE (very strong wind and screaming kids come and cuts the audio)
I: Do you have any favourite dishes?
Ms Walk: I lovee risotto, I could eat it almost every day of the week. And chocolate obviously.
I: So during quarantine, did you pick up any new hobbies, or activities?
Ms Walk: Yeahh so this is going to be embarrassing. I learnt how to rollerblade but it was a little hard to learn. My friend and I had this idea to buy rollerblades and learn together and then we could meet up and be super good at it, and go around but I don’t think that’s going to happen :(
I: What is the best life advice you could give a student ?
Ms Walk: Oooh probably a little cliche but follow the things that you are interested in and passionate about and they are the things that will get you furthest in life. Anything that you are really into, you will make it happen. That’s kinda the motto which I live by, and a make it your own life sort of idea. Not like follow ur dreams, but like follow ur dreams.
I: Who do u tag?!
Ms Walk: Ms Flanagen :)
Thank you so much Ms Walk for taking the time for this interview and we’re so sorry about the wind! Hope you have fun rollerblading :)
And if anyone has any questions, make sure to comment them below or on our story :)