Awatef Amor was born on January 6, 1964, in Gabès, a city in southern Tunisia. The fifth of six children, she grew up in a middle-class family. Her father worked in the public sector, while her mother, a homemaker, instilled values of resilience and dedication in her children.
Graduating in sociology from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities in Tunis in 1989, Awatef dedicated 34 years of her life to the Tunisian education sector. She began as a civic education teacher, a role she held for 25 years. She then pursued a career in administration, first as a high school principal and later as a middle school principal, serving in these roles for a total of nine years. She retired in September 2023.
Beyond her professional life, Awatef is a proud mother of two daughters: Amira, 31, who holds a PhD in network computing, and Aya, 28, a visual artist and PhD candidate in art history. She also shares her daily life with two cats, Loulou and Lucie, and remains a central figure in her family's life.
Why did you retire or why are you still working?
Why did you retire?
Why are you still working?
After a 34-year career, during which I held various roles – 25 years as a civic education teacher, then 4 years as a high school principal, and 5 years as a middle school principal – I decided to retire early, foregoing three more years of work.
This decision was based on several reasons. First, my work took up a large part of my life, consuming my time between class hours, lesson preparation, grading papers, and administrative duties. Over the years, this workload became difficult to manage, both physically and mentally.
Additionally, as a principal, I often had to work during my annual leave without compensation. This contributed to my exhaustion and led me to consider retirement as an opportunity to regain balance.
Lastly, I felt a strong need to reconnect with my family and friends, and to dedicate more time to activities I am passionate about, such as traveling or simply enjoying moments of rest.
For me, retirement is a new chapter, an opportunity to focus on my well-being and fully enjoy this new phase of my life.
Life expectancy 2023
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