Lydia Tan’s teaching journey began in Japan, where she taught English at a high school perched atop a hill in Miyagi — an experience that built character and very strong calves. She later taught General Paper at a local junior college before spending three years in Indonesia as a programmes director at an international school, producing concerts and musicals while teaching IGCSE English and Literature. A brief theatre sabbatical in Melbourne served as a reminder that teaching and the arts were hard to quit, which led her to take on roles such as being a producer for a local theatre company and a programmes curator at the National Museum of Singapore. Along the way, Lydia won a public-voted popularity contest for teachers — a reminder to not take herself too seriously. Outside of work, she enjoys the outdoors and holds a special appreciation for a good dessert tart.