Find meaning in life, doing the work you love.
My passion for teaching started in 2009 when I presented formal training courses to my colleagues at Greenwoods, an auditing firm situated in Cape Town. I started my employment at Greenwoods after I graduated with a Bachelors of Accounting honours degree at Stellenbosch University in December 2005. From 2006 to 2008 I was employed as an auditing trainee, after which I was appointed as audit manager in January 2009. I registered as a chartered accountant of South Africa in January 2009. In 2009 my interest in teaching started when I had to formally develop and present training courses at the firm. In January 2010 I was appointed as quality assurance manager at Greenwoods. As quality assurance manager, one of my job requirements was to manage the formal training programme of the firm in conjunction with the quality assurance partner of the firm. From here, my love for teaching started to grow up to the stage that I realised that teaching is in my blood, and that I was meant to be a teacher, because this is how I find meaning in life. When I teach, I feel alive with a purpose.
The Michelin-star chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen writes the following in his cookbook titled A breath of fresh air:
I believe that each of us will experience a few occasions in our lives where the stars are perfectly aligned to make our dreams come true. Destiny will shove you into the right place at the right time, but in that moment it remains your responsibility to take to the plunge – to close your eyes, leave the safety of your comfort zone and prove how badly you want it, even though you doubt yourself every step of the way.
My moment came when I realised that I want to be a teacher for the rest of my life. I was scared at first, because I have never spoken in front of 300 people before and had a secure job as quality assurance manager. However, I had this passion for sharing my knowledge and being a contributor to other people’s success stories. So I closed my eyes and I applied for a lecturer position at Stellenbosch University. I was permanently appointed as lecturer in Management Accounting in January 2013. I am teaching Management Accounting for undergraduate (278 and 378) and postgraduate (778) students. I have also been subject head for Management Accounting 278 in 2014, Management Accounting 378 from 2015 to 2017 and Management Accounting 778 in 2018. Since my appointment as lecturer, I am doing the work I love and living my passion.
I have learned that life rewards you when you live your dream. Go out and find your bliss – Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen
William Arthur Bishop 