By Blind Spot DriveBlog

Meet the Instructor: Trisha Hagen

Meet the Instructor: Trisha Hagen

Veteran healthcare worker Trisha Hagen has taken her unique set of people skills and applied them to teaching the next generation of safe drivers. Covering the Fife and Kinross areas, Trisha’s Flying Colours Motoring School in Scotland has been successfully operating for over a year. Here, the 55-year-old instructor shares her journey from healthcare to driving instruction and offers valuable advice for learners preparing to pass their driving tests.

Outline

1. Introduction
2. Trisha Hagen’s Background
   • Transition from healthcare to driving instruction
   • Inspiration from her son’s learning journey
3. Why Trisha Hagen Chose Driving Instruction
   • Discovering her passion for teaching
   • The influence of online advertisements
4. The Journey of Becoming an Instructor
   • The ease of passing exams vs. the challenges of actual teaching
   • The lack of practical guidance from driving schools
5. Starting Her Own Business
   • Initial experience with a national franchise
   • The decision to become an independent instructor
6. Trisha Hagen’s Teaching Approach
   • Person-centered instruction style
   • Focusing on students’ individual needs
7. Building a Partnership with Learners
   • Encouraging student involvement in lesson planning
   • Allowing controlled mistakes for better learning
8. Drawing from Her Healthcare Experience
   • Patience, listening, and adapting to each learner
   • Understanding diverse learning capabilities
9. The Challenges and Rewards of Being an Instructor
   • Success stories with anxious learners
   • Overcoming barriers for real job satisfaction
   • Least favorite aspects of the job: paperwork
10. Advice for New Learners From Trisha Hagen
    • Start slow and embrace the learning process
    • The importance of focus and staying calm
11. The Role of Theory Test Pro in Trisha Hagen’s Teaching
    • How the system enhances student progress
    • Benefits of tracking learner performance
12. Key Takeaways for Aspiring Drivers
    • Building confidence and overcoming anxiety
    • Emphasizing patience and persistence
13. Conclusion
14. FAQs
    • How did Trisha transition from healthcare to driving instruction?
    • What makes Trisha Hagen’s teaching style unique?
    • How does Theory Test Pro help students?
    • What advice does Trisha have for anxious learners?
    • What are Trisha’s tips for passing the driving test?

Article

Introduction

Driving lessons can be daunting, especially for those who are just starting. Having an empathetic and patient instructor can make all the difference in helping learners overcome anxiety and build confidence on the road. In the Fife and Kinross areas of Scotland, Trisha Hagen is that instructor. With a background in healthcare and a passion for teaching, Trisha has successfully transferred her skills to create a supportive learning environment for new drivers.

Trisha Hagen’s Background

Before becoming a driving instructor, Trisha Hagen worked for over 15 years in healthcare as a support worker for individuals with autism and dementia. Her dedication to helping others find their way in life shaped her compassionate approach to teaching. But after more than a decade, she was ready for a new challenge.

Inspiration from Her Son

Trisha’s journey into driving instruction was inspired by her son. He faced challenges with learning, requiring extra patience and step-by-step guidance. Teaching him to drive took years, but it ignited Trisha’s passion for instructing. She realized that the joy of teaching someone a new skill, especially something as crucial as driving, was a fulfilling experience she wanted to explore further.

Why Trisha Chose Driving Instruction

While contemplating a career change, Trisha kept noticing an ad from a prominent driving school franchise. It seemed like the perfect opportunity, so she took the plunge. Four years later, she’s never looked back. The switch to instructing came naturally, blending her love for helping others with her knack for teaching.

The Journey of Becoming an Instructor

Unlike many aspiring instructors who find the process complex, Trisha found it relatively straightforward due to her academic strengths. However, she quickly discovered a major gap in her training: the focus was on passing exams, not on how to teach effectively. When she qualified, she was left on her own to figure out lesson planning and student engagement, which was initially daunting.

Starting Her Own Business

After a year with a national driving franchise, Trisha realized she wanted more control over her teaching methods and her clients. She transitioned to a local franchise, which allowed her to better understand the needs of her community. In December 2017, she took the leap to establish her own driving school, “Flying Colours Motoring School,” which has been thriving ever since.

Trisha’s Teaching Approach

Trisha’s teaching style is very much student-focused. Instead of dictating the lesson plan, she asks her students what they would like to work on. This collaborative approach helps build a sense of partnership and ensures that the lessons address the learner’s specific concerns.

Controlled Mistakes for Effective Learning

Trisha believes that making mistakes is an essential part of learning. By allowing her students to make controlled errors, they gain hands-on experience in problem-solving, which builds their confidence and driving skills faster.

Drawing from Her Healthcare Experience

Years of working in healthcare taught Trisha the importance of patience, listening, and customizing her approach to suit the individual. Whether it’s adapting to different learning paces or understanding the unique challenges each student faces, her background in healthcare has enriched her teaching methods.

The Challenges and Rewards of Being an Instructor

One of the most rewarding aspects of Trisha’s job is helping learners overcome their fears. She recalls a student who came to her with severe anxiety about roundabouts after an intensive course elsewhere. Through consistent practice and reassurance, they managed to overcome this challenge, which Trisha describes as one of her proudest moments.

On the flip side, the paperwork involved in running a business is her least favorite task. Tax returns, accounting, and administrative duties can be overwhelming, but it’s a small price to pay for the satisfaction of helping her students succeed.

Advice for New Learners

Trisha advises her students to start slowly and be patient with themselves. Learning to drive is not something that happens overnight. “Focus on the moment,” she emphasizes, “because 95% of driving is about concentration.” By staying relaxed and focused, learners can absorb information better and become safer drivers.

The Role of Theory Test Pro in Trisha’s Teaching

Trisha utilizes Theory Test Pro to monitor her students’ progress in their theory preparation. The platform allows her to identify weak areas and tailor her lessons accordingly. Her students appreciate the interactive features, like the “Ask Trisha” button, which gives them direct access to her guidance outside of lessons.

Conclusion

Trisha Hagen’s journey from healthcare to driving instruction highlights the power of transferring people skills into a new field. Her approach, rooted in patience, partnership, and personal attention, has helped numerous learners in Fife and Kinross gain the confidence they need to pass their tests and become safe drivers.

FAQs

1. How did Trisha transition from healthcare to driving instruction?
   Trisha was inspired by teaching her son to drive, which revealed her passion for teaching.
2. What makes Trisha’s teaching style unique?
   She adopts a person-centered approach, focusing on the individual needs of her students.
3. How does Theory Test Pro help students?
   The platform allows Trisha to track progress and address specific weak areas.
4. What advice does Trisha have for anxious learners?
   Stay patient, focus on one thing at a time, and remember that making mistakes is part of learning.
5. What are Trisha’s tips for passing the driving test?
   Start slow, stay relaxed, and concentrate fully during lessons.
   Main image by https://www.theorytestpro.co.uk/posts/meet-instructor-trisha-hagen/