One of the few downsides of a long teaching career is that it’s impossible to keep up with all your past pupils. You spend years nurturing them, pushing them to reach their potential — and then they head out into the big wide world. Every so often though, life gives you a lovely reminder that they’ve gone on to do great things.
That’s exactly what happened today when I tuned into The Chase and saw a familiar face appear on screen.
There he was — Alan O’Donoghue, one of my former pupils! It’s been many (many!) years since I last saw him, and back then he was wearing his school uniform rather than a smart TV outfit — but I’d have recognised him anywhere. The same bright eyes, the same quick wit, the same spark that made him stand out even then.
From the moment the questions started, I could tell he hadn’t lost his edge. Alan breezed through his opening round, full of confidence and good humour, and was an absolute star in the final chase. I found myself shouting at the TV (using my best indoor teacher voice, of course), willing the seconds to tick faster. And when they actually beat the Chaser? I may have let out a cheer loud enough to make the neighbours think Ireland had just won the Eurovision!
Watching him up there — calm, clever, and funny — filled me with that quiet pride only a teacher really understands. You see flashes of brilliance in a classroom, but it’s rare you get to witness it years later, fully formed, in front of millions of viewers.
Well done, Alan — you absolutely aced it. You’ve made your school, your town, and one very proud former teacher beam with pride.
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