In profile: Tristan Thomas

Secondary School Mathematics Teacher

Your road to Radford was a winding one. Can you tell us about it?
I left a teaching job, at Campbell High School in 2019, for a London-based adventure with my partner, Emily. After yearning for the challenge of living abroad for years, I finally convinced her to come along for the ride. While the language and love of cricket is the same there, it certainly was a special experience, full of ‘you alrightttts?’ And all sorts of other random South London banter. It was more different than we could have imagined, and I’d recommend the jump to everyone at some point in their life if they get the chance. We had a few months of the typical European last-minute weekends on cheap 1am Ryan Air flights and were always tired but we loved it. Then COVID-19 hit. Living in one of the world’s most populated and manic cities as the months-long lockdowns were first proposed was fairly deflating and foreboding. We knew, however, that it was our now or never moment so we stuck it out and just tried to make each day as positive as possible. Emily was furloughed for almost a year, but walked/explored more than Forest Gump, and we both were part of many of the early attempts for struggling theatre companies to stay afloat throughout the cancellations. We still loved every minute of our time, which is easy when you are in a city with so much history – Charles Darwin having lived on one street, or Yoko Ono or some of the suffragettes on the next.

Having now gone through similar COVID situations here, how are the experiences different?
It’s been so weird going through it all again and I certainly relate to the large majority of people who are feeling fatigued by it all. For those who have spent time in London’s most crowded spots (the Tube included) it was totally eerie to walk through these places when there was nearly no one there. When I first got home to Australia, students thought it was madness, the stories of having to teach classes of as few as six people some days (half of them sniffling) and having heads of years come in each lunch asking who sat next to Jimmy or Lizzy so they too can isolate. But now most have experienced similar in Australia – though I do think we have better protocols in place here at Radford. Having had COVID twice, over consecutive Christmases, I do look forward to getting a real break when Santa next comes in December. Fingers crossed.

Before becoming a teacher, you were a track and field athlete at the Australian Institute of Sport. Can you give us a quick summary of your career?
I competed in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and the 2012 Olympics in London where I made the semi-final. These comps are the ones people care about, but my personal highlights were being a member of the bronze medal-winning 4 x 400 metres relay team at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin and winning gold in the 400m Hurdles at the World University Games in Belgrade that same year. As much as these achievements were unbelievable, getting to experience the highs with teammates and living out our childhood dreams on the world’s biggest stages is just as strongly a reason why I advise anyone to chase their own dreams, as crazy as they seem at this point.

You studied Architecture and Human Biology during your athletics career, before moving into teaching. Are you glad you made the change?
I like the design element of Architecture, but I am also a strong advocate for being able to acknowledge when something isn’t right for you, or being able to admit that you could be better at other things. Teaching didn’t start off as a forever move for me, but I had an inspirational mentor in my first practical placement and I fell in love with it. He meant so much more to his students than just a guy delivering content, and I saw first-hand how much potential we have to empower young adults and guide them towards their most successful and happy future. Everyone remembers their favourite teacher for a reason and after a few lean years on the track at the end, it has been really nice to be a positive in other people’s journeys.

How do you enjoy working at Radford?
Radford is by far the best school I’ve been into. Everywhere I look, I am surrounded by this warm friendliness, and as we all say, much of that comes down to the students. I’m sure it isn’t perfect at all moments but there is an overall organic willingness by the students to be their best selves, both academically and as people, and I think that is unique. I still marvel at the genuine interest in events like the World’s Greatest Shave or the Dirrum Festival, and it is this interest in being ‘good’ that will take the legends further than their excellent grades. So it’s safe to say coming to this school has been one thing I do really like about being home.

What was the highlight of your first year at Radford?
Finally getting to see my classes get through their end-of-year exams, after a few years of moving mid-year or going through assessment-free lockdowns, was what I really wanted. It was great to get to shake their hands at the end and say, 'We did it!'. I am also now lucky enough to be head of defending House Cup champions Huon, and while we did just fall short on winning the Secondary School House Athletics Carnival last week, it does all bring it around full circle to be part of the next generation shooting for their best, whatever that may be.