Locations"At 19, I Teach People with More Work Experience than My Age": Why 20-Year-Olds Pursue a Teaching Career
November 25, 2024
Matvei Kurnosov is a vocational instructor at the College of Modern Technologies in Mechanical Engineering and Automotive Service and a winner of the national professional skills competition in turning work on CNC machines
Matvei Kurnosov is a vocational instructor at the College of Modern Technologies in Mechanical Engineering and Automotive Service, a branch of the Republic Institute for Professional Education. After completing his studies in mechatronics, he discovered his passion for turning and milling operations on CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines.
Matvei is in his first year of teaching. After graduating, the young professional stayed at his college through mandatory work placement. He now teaches practical classes and delivers network training for students from various educational institutions. At just 19, he is entrusted with training experienced professionals sent by companies for upskilling or mastering new equipment.
Surprisingly, Matvei hadn’t considered a career in teaching up until recently. At school, he was interested in exact sciences and planned to become a developer. So, when it was time to choose a vocational course after completing ninth grade, he was immediately drawn to mechatronics engineering – a field that involves programming, but in manufacturing.
The profession seemed promising. As production systems are becoming increasingly automated, workers skilled to manage them will certainly be in high demand. Another advantage was its versatility: upon graduation, students earn three qualifications at once - mechatronics technician, CNC machine operator, and CNC machine adjuster.
Already during his studies, Matvei discovered that working with machines turned out to be more exciting than programming.
"I like the feeling of holding a produced part in my hands and thinking, 'I made this.'"
- I realized that doing manual labour and seeing tangible results of my work was more rewarding, - tells Matvei. - Of course, modern manufacturing equipment still requires programming. And it's not as simple as pressing a single button. But half of the process is getting the setup right. I need to manually insert the tools, measure and calculate everything to ensure all parts fit together. Then I position the workpiece and secure it to the tool. That's what I enjoy. I like the feeling of holding a produced part in my hands and thinking, 'I made this.'
Matvei shares that this keen interest developed in his third year when he decided to test his abilities in a professional skills competition. He admits that he initially sought new experiences. However, unexpectedly, he became so absorbed in the preparation process that victories started to follow one after another: first at a college competition, then at a city-wide tournament. Soon after, Matvei secured first place at the national ProfSkills competition and went on to represent Belarus at the Professionals competition in Saint Petersburg where he claimed second place among international participants.
While Matvei's journey may have started by chance, his success is not a mere coincidence but a result of hard work and a genuine passion for the craft.
- The preparation process is intense and demanding, - says Matvei. - For an entire month, I spent eight to twelve hours a day perfecting the techniques required for the competition.
The long hours Matvei dedicated to training paid off. Alongside mastering practical skills, he built a strong reputation and gained a competitive edge over his peers. By the time he graduated, he had several job offers, with employers eager to compete over a qualified worker. Nevertheless, Matvei chose to remain at the college as an instructor, where he could further develop his expertise.
"For me, teaching is an opportunity to deepen my understanding of the profession and continue refining my skills."
- At this stage, teaching is an opportunity to deepen my understanding of the profession and continue refining my skills, - says Matvei. - In manufacturing companies, young specialists are not immediately entrusted with complex tasks. Initially, they work as assistants, following the instructions of more experienced colleagues. In contrast, I want to continue working with complex processes, learn new techniques, and exchange experiences with colleagues from other countries. At the college, I already have that opportunity. If I change my mind, I'll be able to move to an enterprise later, but with a much broader set of skills and knowledge. Perhaps, over time, I'll develop a greater passion for teaching itself, and if that happens, I may decide to stay in education.
Related
content
content
