Full Circle: A Personal Journey of Work-Integrated Learning and Self-Directed Discovery

This chapter delves into my personal and professional journey through an unconventional route toward my chosen career in education. Departing from the traditional path, I share two pivotal narratives highlighting the transformative power of work-integrated learning (WIL) and my impact on future educators. Grounded within the theoretical frameworks of WIL, Embodied, Situated, and Distributed (ESD) cognition, and Self-Regulated Learning (SRL), this chapter underscores the importance of experiential learning across a diverse set of circumstances. Further, central to my journey lies the construct of self-directed learning (SDL), which allowed me agency and autonomy along my educational journey. This chapter serves as a testament to the transformative power of experiential learning and self-directed inquiry in shaping both my personal and professional growth within the realm of education.