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Meet Mr Adam Parker, Teacher of Geography, Drama and Humanities, Assistant Housemaster of Burton Bank and Eco Coordinator at Mill Hill International School. We spoke with Mr Parker to find out more about him and his role at Mill Hill International School.
How long have you worked at Mill Hill International School?
I started at Mill Hill International School in September 2020. This is my second year at the school and I absolutely love it here!
What does your role involve?
I am a Geography teacher and also teach Drama and Humanities. In addition to this, I am the Assistant Housemaster of Burton Bank and Eco Coordinator for the school.
I thoroughly enjoy all aspects of my role, but being the Eco Coordinator is incredibly special to me. We have introduced a variety of exciting things to the school such as a beehive, bug hotel and tree planting initiative.
I am proud to say that Mill Hill International School has recently been awarded ‘The Eco-Schools Green Flag’. This award celebrates the ecological accomplishments of young people. The school had to meet different objectives to earn this award such as waste reduction, promoting biodiversity and improving the school grounds. The Eco Club have also created informative posters and introduced litter picking each week to reduce waste.
I love seeing our pupils get involved in these initiatives. It teaches them about our environment and that their actions can make a real difference.
What is your favourite thing at Mill Hill International School?
I feel very privileged to work with international pupils. It is fantastic to learn about their cultures and teach them about the United Kingdom. I have also been impressed by how resilient and adaptive our pupils are. They are often living away from home and English is not their first language. However, the pupils are always motivated to improve their English and step outside of their comfort zone to try new things.
Do you have any advice for our pupils that could help them get the most out of their time at Mill Hill International School?
Try to get involved in everything at least once. This is particularly important for day pupils because I want them to have the same experience as the boarders. I would advise them to sign up for the superb trips the school arranges such as paintballing, meals out and bowling. You may discover something which you are passionate about or create new friendships. There are so many things on offer and it would be a shame not to get involved!
What is your favourite book and film for our pupils and why?
I have read ‘Perks of Being a Wallflower’ by John Green countless times. It is a great coming of age story about friendship and enjoying being young. I also love the film ‘E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial’ because it is a lovely story about friendship and adventure.
Could you share an inspirational quote with us? How does it inspire you?
“Not all those who wander are lost” J.R.R. Tolkien. Whilst I was at school a tutor said this to me and I have always remembered it. It is a lovely reminder that we do not need to map everything out, and it is good to be interested in lots of different things.
Have you got any tips to help our pupils deal with exam stress?
Take regular breaks from revision and find something which brings you joy, such as a walk with friends, a nice warm bath etc. I also think that breaking down your work into manageable chunks is important. This will help you to feel more organised and in control.
