Where Teaching Meets Storytelling

At Rosebank College, our staff bring their passions into the classroom every day. Few embody this more than Demi Poulos, an English teacher and author of Other Lives, recently longlisted for The Hope Prize, a worldwide short-story competition that drew 2,500 entries.

For Demi, writing and teaching are two sides of the same coin. "Words, language and storytelling are so powerful," she says. "I'm passionate about engaging students in the study of literature and language, and helping them develop their own ideas. It means they will engage more openly with the world, become deeper thinkers, and be more confident communicators."

Being longlisted for The Hope Prize was a milestone in a much longer journey. "It was a big shock and honour," Demi reflects. "I've been writing fiction since I was about 7 years old. To be able to share my stories with the world is a dream, and I hope to be published one day."

She loves the creative process itself; messy first ideas and all. "I absolutely love coming up with new ideas for stories, which is probably why it's so hard to finish them! Having an outlet for creativity and reaching a ‘flow state’ is so satisfying in the busyness of today's world."

That love flows straight into her classroom. "As an English teacher, I get to read new and classic stories again and again, living vicariously through a young person engaging with a text for the first time."

For Demi, writing and critical thinking are inseparable. "When I write, it's thinking on paper. When I refine and edit, that's when my critical thinking is in use: questioning my assumptions, predicting readers' responses, weighing feedback."

Currently on her bedside table: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - a well-loved reread.

Demi's story reflects the passion and dedication our staff bring to Rosebank every day.