Joining less than a year ago, Kim Wells has already become a notable member of the RCHK community as librarian., advisor and English teacher.

What more is there to know?  The RCHK Truth spoke with her.

Can you tell us about your life before coming to RCHK?

I was born and raised in Sheffield (United Kingdom), which is not the most beautiful place. My interest in English began when a teacher assigned me a piece of coursework on turning a book into poems in Year 11, and I absolutely loved it. So, I wanted to be a teacher or have a flower shop. I wasn’t artistic enough for the flower idea, so I gave that up. My first position was being an English teacher, which had a British Curriculum, and I was working with the teacher that gave me the Year 11 project, so I was really inspired.

Why did you choose to become a librarian? 

I was the head of secondary as well as being a teacher, having 130 students under my care. However, I hated the head-teacher role because of the hard work, such as dealing with finances, and creating a good image for the school. It took me away from why I really became a teacher - to be with students. I decided to see if I could go to an IB school to further develop myself, and there were different opportunities in Bangkok and then in RCHK, where the library position was open. The library has always been the heart of a school in my opinion.

What is your favourite and least favourite part of teaching? 

My favourite part about teaching is when you get in those deep conversations with students that you didn’t intend, as though they can go off track, they can still be valuable. It allows for different perspectives and opens up thoughts about stereotypes, racism, and more. To see students engaged with these ideas and are proud of their achievements is great.

The worst part: Getting up at 5:45 a.m.

In your spare time, what else do you like to do besides reading?

I like to learn and try new things, so I have several hobbies. I’m very interested in the movement of the body and expression of self, so I do a lot of weightlifting, gymnastics, dance, and other activities. I also learned how to play the gong, which is useful for meditation and has become a side hustle for me.

As the librarian, what is the book you would recommend to everyone?

It changes every day! One of my favourites that I would recommend to students in Year 10 or above is ‘Papillon’ as I enjoy prison-related books. It’s an autobiography about a French man who lived with different tribes and colonies, and though it might not be 100% accurate, it really pulls you in. I also love poetry since you can read them in a minute. 

What are some things you would like to implement in the future for the library?

I’m excited about a large-scale renovation, and in the next twelve months or so, the library will look completely different. Hopefully restructuring of the space will mean the study space becomes more flexible and less like a strict classroom. I am also hoping to make a separate study space for the MYP, though this is still uncertain.

If you weren’t teaching, what job would you take instead?

I want to buy an island and make an eco-resort with diving, growing my own vegetables, and more as my retirement plan.