After a decade as Head of Media Studies at an international school in Hong Kong, I found myself at a crossroads. While I deeply enjoyed teaching my hybrid curriculum of practical and theoretical media studies—watching my students progress to media-related college programs—I had reached an all-too-familiar plateau in education. The traditional path forward meant moving into administration, trading the vibrant energy of the classroom for endless spreadsheets and policy documents. That future held no appeal for me.
The daily reality of teaching had begun to wear me down. Each school day stretched from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., yet weekends still disappeared into a blur of grading and lesson planning. The physical and mental demands were relentless—teaching requires constant presence and engagement, without a moment's respite. Even the cyclical nature of education, explaining the same concepts year after year to new waves of students, had started to feel less like a rhythm and more like a rut.
I knew I needed a change before burnout claimed me. Instead of using my MA in screenwriting to teach about films, I yearned to create them. My colleagues thought I was taking an enormous risk—abandoning a secure position with excellent benefits to pursue a career in Hollywood's notoriously volatile industry, armed with only a handful of contacts in Los Angeles. But sometimes the biggest risks yield the greatest rewards: two decades later, I'm still here, thriving in my second act.
What many educators don't realize is how remarkably transferable their skillset is. Teaching had equipped me with abilities that proved invaluable in Hollywood: clear communication, adaptable problem-solving, relationship building across hierarchies, and the ability to present ideas confidently on short notice. As a writer and story consultant, I've found that my expertise in critical analysis translates perfectly to evaluating screenplays and rough cuts. I help clarify storytelling through structural adjustments and dialogue refinements, guiding projects from confusion to clarity, from adequate to excellent.
My work now includes adapting novels and revising screenplays, allowing me to immerse myself in different historical periods and perspectives. The research skills I honed as a teacher serve me well as I recreate specific times and places or interpret others' creative visions.
Yet teaching never fully released its hold on me. For years, I was haunted by a recurring nightmare: standing before a class of ninth-graders, realizing I'd somehow missed teaching them all year, with exams looming and not a single assigned book read. To quiet these dreams, I began volunteering with WriteGirl, a nonprofit offering writing workshops to teenage girls. Witnessing their moments of creative breakthrough reminded me of what I loved most about teaching. Later, teaching horror screenwriting to adults through Stage 32 helped me find the perfect balance—sharing knowledge on my own terms while continuing to refine my craft.
Looking back, I see my journey has come full circle, though in an unexpected way. While I have no regrets about leaving traditional teaching when I did, I've found joy in returning to education in a capacity that aligns with my evolved career path. Sometimes the best way forward isn't up the expected ladder, but across to an entirely new building.