My name is Meg Failor and I am a 2023 graduate from the BJU School of Education and Human Services. I’m originally from Boise, Idaho, and ended up at BJU as a legacy student—my grandparents, parents, and siblings all attended and graduated from BJU. My mother also majored in Elementary Education, which is what I eventually pursued as well. However, I didn’t always plan to become a teacher. It wasn’t until my first year at BJU that I realized that I was being led in this direction. Once I accepted that calling, I quickly became passionate about teaching and knew this was the path I was meant to follow.
My hesitation to become a teacher was partly because I thought it would be cliché to follow in the footsteps of so many generations of educators in my family, dating back to my great-great-grandmothers on both sides. But once I embraced my calling, I was all in. During university, I was passionate about teaching in public schools, particularly in low-income communities, where I could make a real difference. I was convinced I’d stay in Greenville or move back to Boise. At first, I didn’t even consider international teaching because I assumed it was mostly about teaching English as a second language. However, I’ve always loved traveling and experiencing different cultures. Before moving to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), I had already visited Europe, Africa, and Asia.
My perspective changed during my junior year when I attended an on-campus recruitment event and met representatives from the organization that runs multiple international schools, called LifePlus. That’s when I realized I could combine my passion for teaching with my love of travel and cultural exploration—essentially my dream job. Even after that, I was still hesitant. I wanted to get a few years of teaching experience before moving abroad. Just for fun, I applied for a teaching role through LifePlus, not expecting to make it past the first interview. However, as my senior year progressed (which was only one semester since I graduated in December), I kept getting rejections from schools in Greenville and Boise—but I kept advancing in the international hiring process. That’s when I realized this was a door opening for me. At first, I thought it was crazy that I had made it so far, but looking back, I see a hand guiding me every step of the way. Though it took time for me to fully embrace the idea, I am so grateful for this journey. It has not only led me to my dream job but has also deepened my faith.
Moving to the UAE has certainly been an adjustment. The biggest cultural adjustment for me has been the constant movement of people. The UAE is an international hub, and expats come and go all the time. It’s been challenging to form relationships, only to have to say goodbye a few months later. This applies to both colleagues and students. It’s an adjustment to start the school year with a class, only to have students leave throughout the year due to their families relocating.
One unique challenge is that my students not only have different academic needs but also come from a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Some students don’t speak any English, while others come from cultures that occasionally clash, leading to misunderstandings or conflicts. To address these challenges, I’ve had to think outside the box and ensure that cultural diversity is not a barrier but a strength in the classroom. I integrate my students’ cultures into their learning experiences, making content relevant to their backgrounds and perspectives. When students see their own cultures reflected in what they are learning, they become more engaged and develop a deeper understanding of the material.
However, one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching this year has been seeing my students develop a genuine interest in their learning. It’s been fulfilling to provide them with a caring environment where they feel encouraged to grow academically. In this culture, education hasn’t always been a top priority, though significant progress is being made. Many students don’t initially see the value of school because they already have a family business to fall back on. This makes motivation a challenge in the classroom. However, watching students become engaged in their learning—seeing them seek out knowledge, participate in discussions, and apply what they’ve learned outside of school—has been incredibly rewarding. It’s especially exciting to see them transfer classroom skills to extracurricular activities, demonstrating that they are internalizing what they’ve learned.
Looking back, I realize how many small moments at BJU helped prepare me for this journey. Being placed in a fifth-grade classroom for my practicum gave me firsthand experience with the age group I now teach. Dr. Salinas’ emphasis on multilingual learners (MLLs) in her Teaching Social Studies class also shaped how I approach language barriers in my classroom today. These experiences, along with the mentorship and hands-on learning opportunities I had at BJU, gave me the foundation I needed to thrive as an international teacher. I am incredibly grateful to all of my professors at BJU who supported me all along the way.
One of the biggest pieces of advice I would give to anyone considering a career in teaching is to learn to be flexible. No matter how well you plan a lesson or how many strategies you apply, teaching is full of unexpected variables. Some lessons will go exactly as planned, while others will completely derail—and that’s okay! During my first year, I tried teaching concepts the way I had seen my mentors do it, only to find that some methods didn’t work for my specific group of students. It’s important to give yourself grace in those moments. Teaching is a continuous learning process, and flexibility is key to finding what works best for you and your students.
Right now, I plan to stay in the UAE as long as I’m needed here, but I am also open to wherever God leads me next. Teaching, especially in an international setting, can be both rewarding and challenging, but knowing that I am exactly where I am meant to be has given me the strength and encouragement to keep going. In the long run, I would love to pursue my master’s degree in Special Education, with a focus on Gifted and Talented learning. Regardless of where I am in the world, I want to continue growing as an educator and finding ways to make a meaningful impact in my students’ lives.
