What if there’s life outside of a classroom? This is one of the things that Louise Earnshaw kept considering before she made the decision to leave her job as a teacher after 20 years. Dismayed by the pressure and toxic environment, she left teaching in April 2023 to be a freelance outdoor instructor and artist. She says she feels so much happier managing her own time and pursuing the things she loves.

Themes during Louise’s interview include her concerns about finances, imposter syndrome, feelings of inadequacy during her early education years, the positive impact of outdoor pursuits, and managing her time now that she has more freedom and flexibility. 

At the end of the interview, Louise gives you a simple creative task that might help you to take a step towards making a change in your life.

Here’s the list of questions that I asked Louise:

• What does it feel like being sat here on a Wednesday morning when just a few months ago you would’ve been doing your job as a teacher?
• Is the outdoors instructing something that you did alongside teaching?
• How do you balance all of the different elements of your work?
• What was it about Ali Foxon’s training that made you fly with it?
• How long had you been thinking about leaving teaching?
• Did you feel powerless to be able to do anything about it in the educational system?
• Have you taken a big hit financially?
• What would you say are the unmet needs that you experienced as a teacher that you’re discovering about yourself now?
• Is there anything that unsettles you now that you have more freedom?
• Why do you think you doubt yourself?
• Did you go into teaching because you had a challenging experience at school?
• What question would you like to leave us with?

Links to Louise’s work

Louise Earnshaw Artist website

Instagram

Facebook page

References

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

The Adventure Element website

Dr Ali Foxon website

Dr Ali Foxon on About the Adventure Podcast

Sam Marshall - Artist and Printmaker website

Recording information

This episode was recorded in a Peak District woodland on 5th July 2023.

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Final notes

Visit About The Adventure website to email Sarah, the podcast host, with your comments, questions or suggestions for future guests. Subscribe to Sarah's newsletter to receive episodes in your inbox, along with career change interviews and career coaching questions.

Podcast music is by Tsarzi and artwork by Tiffany-Francis Baker.

Thanks for listening!