Vasilka Gjurchinovski on the school year: September 1 is a new opportunity

On September 1 schools came alive again — the smell of new notebooks, children’s footsteps in corridors and the nervous excitement of the first day. For Vasilka Gjurchinovski, a mathematics teacher and education specialist, the date marks not merely a calendar change but a renewed opportunity.

Gjurchinovski holds a degree in mathematics, a master’s in education, more than two decades of experience in classrooms and educational projects, 15 published domestic and international scholarly papers and more than 300 certificates, awards and professional trainings. But she says those numbers are the framework; the real story lies in the daily effort, late-night preparations, research and compromises behind them.

She frames the start of each school year as a chance to improve. “What can I do better this year?” she asks herself at every new opening day, searching for fresh methods, greater patience and — most importantly — the ability to listen. Gjurchinovski argues that teachers must continue to be learners: if we encourage curiosity and the courage to make mistakes in students, educators must also keep rethinking their practice.

Learning beyond formulas

Mathematics taught her a lesson she applies broadly: solutions rarely come on the first try. You may need to step back, test another approach and keep trying. That mental model, she says, explains her persistent professional curiosity and why she views certificates and conferences not as trophies but as reminders of how much remains to learn.

At home she balances multiple roles: wife and mother of two daughters — one a university student, the other still in school. She admits the balance is difficult and rejects the myth that a woman can do everything without cost. Time, she says, is irretrievable: you can reschedule a meeting, but you cannot get back yesterday’s conversation with your child. That perspective shapes how she chooses where to spend her energy.

About professional boundaries she is blunt: the line is where dedication becomes exploitation. “Sometimes the most mature professional response you can give is: ‘I can’t,’” she says, explaining that refusing extra tasks is not lack of care but recognition of real limits. True strength, she adds, lies in protecting the most important version of yourself.

Today Gjurchinovski measures success not only by diplomas or publications but by what one leaves behind — the people inspired, the relationships sustained and the presence offered when it mattered most. For her, the highest value is being present rather than perfect.

Photo: приватна архива