- Donna Burke, 60, started her educational career in Perth, Australia, but she was sheltering deeper ambitions.
- She left the profession to follow her dream to be a famous singer and actress.
- She is now a professional singer – and the voice of the Japanese lead train.
This translated article depends on a conversation with Donna Burke. It was released for length and clarity.
I have already got my education at the Teacher Training College for free.
In the 1980s, Australian government Pay for you to attend the university if you work for more than two years. I stayed in a bank job for two years and two exactly that I could demand free higher education and re -train as a teacher.
My parents did not encourage my real aspirations – singing and acting – but I saw Teaching as a safe profession I can always retreat. I was one of seven children, and we encouraged us to do everything we could to be financially stable. Two of my older sisters also went to training teachers.
I am now thinking if it is a good advice to put my dreams in the second place. Maybe it was. Later I really wanted Go to Japan – Where I live now – to work. One of the visa requirements was that you have a university degree. Without following my father’s advice, I was not qualified. But now I can do something I really love.
I never thought that teaching will be a function of life
Start My educational career By returning to work in the same school, I attended as a student. The boys were absolutely a nightmare, the girls barely caught my attention because I was very busy in an attempt to calm and control the fading boys. I followed the joint advice on winning obedience as a teacher: Do not break a smile before Easter. I was very strict. I had to be.
After that, I moved to teach older students, English and drama in a different high school. Paradise was to relax and break jokes without losing control of the chapter. They barely laughed, though.
I never hoped that it would be a function of life. I wanted to be on stage.
In some respects, teaching is similar to being on stage; It is like acting. You have to pretend that you do not care when you carefully take care of. You have to suffocate laughter, maintain a straight face, or act really disappointed, or say, “Wow, this is amazing!” Knowing that 30 young men are watching every step. But they do not want to perform. They want a teacher. I did not say it loudly, but at the back of my mind, I knew I was settling.
I moved to Tokyo
After eight Years of teaching in Perth, AustraliaI saw an advertisement for an educational job in Tokyo. In the interview, they said the job included less education and help Japanese youth in their English conversation skills. I felt as a chance of a role with lower responsibilities in a new and exciting place.
when I moved to JapanSoon I realized that I could earn good money to be a singer for a wedding party as a side son -in -law, which is something I started doing in Perth. I was doing up to six wedding parties a day. I have always confirmed what I always knew: teaching is not my passion; This is not what I put on this planet.
In 1997, I left my educational function in Tokyo and focused on my passion: bringing joy to people through singing and performance. I also started doing computer games, including Silent Hill and Metal Gear Solid.
Voice on the lead train
In 2002, I tested the voice of the English -speaking speaker on the Japanese lead train, The Shinkansen, in conjunction with the tourist boom in Japan for English speakers. It has expressed five ways, including the most famous: Tokyo to Kyoto.
It has also led to other great jobs. I am also my voice in the English language of the earthquake alert in Japan. So if you are anywhere in the country and a four or higher earthquake occurred, your mobile phone will spoil my voice saying, “An earthquake! An earthquake!”
I do not regret any of my decisions. But my lifelong logo is: If you are not grateful for what you are doing, stop. You want to bring some energy to your work.
I am happy that I did not wait for a “big break.” When that happened, this was not what I expected, but the key was that I did not ask anyone permission. I went out and made things talk to myself.
