I grew up on a farm in rural Victoria, and didn't have access to the best schools or teachers. However, the two or three teachers throughout my secondary school years who spotted and nurtured my potential are responsible for my subsequent educational and career path: I won two scholarships to the University of Melbourne (2002), and was accepted as a resident into the even more exclusive Ormond College. I also studied overseas in Ireland (University College Dublin) and Russia (Moscow Higher School of Economics). I worked for four years as a freelance journalist and researcher in Iraq and Iran (2009-2013), and still occasionally write the odd article. I am a lifelong learner and teacher, and have taught in 6 countries across 3 continents - to ages ranging from infants to adults. In Moscow I was a full-time tutor for over a year, teaching everything from basic English to preparing students for their IELTS exams or entrance into prestigious American and British universities. My greatest strengths are breaking down complex topics into formats that are easier to understand, and finding content/sources that elicit the dormant curiosity of the learner in the subject/topic.