Lenka Viktorová

I was born in the royal town of Litoměřice, where I lived for more than twenty years. After primary school I went to train as a cook and waitress, but even then I knew it wasn't the right thing for me. I kept being drawn in a different direction.

When I was of school age I spent a lot of time with my aunt and a bunch of “other people's” children. She was running a hiking group at the time, and my older cousin and I went everywhere with them. That has stayed with me to this day – but more on that later.

As happens in life, later came a great love and a move together to Most, where my future husband and I bought a home. Our son was born; he is now at secondary school.

I bypassed the trade I had trained for, and my first job after maternity leave was at the children's home in Most; later I threw myself into working with the elderly in social services. I enjoyed the work, but I was drawn more and more to children. My son was small and we found a shared path – Scouting. At first I just helped out with the pre-schoolers at the Most Scout centre, where I am still active today – the only difference being that I am now a full member, I have passed my Scout leader-in-training exam and the leader's exam is still ahead of me.

At the moment I am in charge of a patrol of little girls and I really enjoy it. I see them every week, and once a month we head “out” with rucksacks on our backs. You will certainly never meet me with a handbag in my hand and high heels on – more like sturdy hiking boots, a girls' Scout troop and a weekend away from home with a wonderful bunch of people and friends.

For 10 years I have also been involved in the fan club of one of our Czech singers. I look after his fan club website and help out at concerts.

I love working with children and it fulfils me, but leading a Scout patrol wasn't enough for me. So I decided to train as a teaching assistant. There are children who need more time, more patience and more support from us adults.

And what brought me to Montessori? Wanting a different perspective on how to approach children than the traditional one, to learn something new, to move a step further in my life. I love the well-thought-out Montessori materials. I see Montessori as a way through life where it is not about results but about the path to knowledge and a responsible attitude to life and the people around you. I am glad to have become part of the team at AMA SCHOOL.

WHAT I LIKE: my family, spring, peace and quiet, summer camps, Scouting, doing what I enjoy, listening to songs by my favourite singer

WHAT I DON'T LIKE: arguments, unreliability, arrogance, betrayal, bread-and-apple pudding, baked rice pudding