So, after 4 long years I am finally coming to the end of my undergraduate’s degree!! It has in a lot of ways been a roller-coaster of emotions, challenge and personal development. Over the last few months I have been asked what I have planned for when I finish uni, and if for someone who likes to have a plan and is always panicking about what is to come. For the first time about two weeks ago after joking and saying, 'no idea' to a friend after he asked what are you r plans for after uni, I second guessed myself. Throughout my degree I have been taught to think, taught to learn from experiences and taught to be me. So, we have all been there as a kid in school facing the question from a teacher 'what do you want to be when you grow up?'. And for a long time, I wanted to build equipment and design innovative technology. It was not until I visited Ethiopia for the first time and I saw people living with so little consumption for cosmetic goods, but in the same context a life of joy, that I knew I wanted to help others and experience the same joy they were. In life we forget the joy, happiness and fulfilment that come from the experiences we are exposed to each day! Which I think can be summed up by John a student who when asked by his teacher in an assignment about the future, he said when I grow up I want to be ‘happy’! the teacher approached the student and said I think you misunderstood the assignment, John responded with ‘Miss I think you misunderstood life’. I think this is a beautiful thing shows how our idea of life and progression. If you Google search the definition of Success it is defined as: 1. The accomplishment of an aim or purpose. Which as a young person and kid I thought accomplishment was defined by what other people though I could be and what they believed I would achieve. Going into my GCSE’s I was predicted E’s and F’s in all subject’s I was told I wouldn’t finish school. And it wasn’t until I took a step back and saw my life as my own that I challenged the stereotypes and views of my ability become truth. By the end of year 11 I left with 9 C’s a B and a D, and you know what I’m happy to say every step forward is just more motivation to keep trying. My mum taught me that there is no such thing as ‘I can’t’. And yes, writing essays and my dissertation has challenged me beyond my belief but I can honestly say I’ve done it and as long as I’m awake, breathing able to find motivation I will try. I have always seen failure and getting things wrong as bad. But to say you haven’t failed or got things wrong means you haven really tried anything new beyond what people believe you are capable of. Every time I feel like quitting or feel like giving up; which was worse as I was growing up because I felt the gate to success, closing more and more each time I tried. This has been prevalent in my life over the past month as I’ve tried to find work for myself as each time I sent off a job application, it led to another rejection. And I will admit the other day I wondered if I was capable and talented enough to get a job. So, I have taken it upon myself to create a job, create my own journey and that’s where I need your help!! The other day I said I was going to walk around the coastline of the UK. Well…. This was until I saw it would take 10 months! Rather I have decided to walk from Lands’ end to John O’Groats which take cyclists around 10-14 days and a current record of someone running it in 9 days. I have set myself the challenge of doing it in 20-25 days. Why have I done this? Well when I say it people have laughed and being the stupid person I am once I have an idea in my head for a challenge that inflicts pain on myself; for some reason, I feel the need to challenge every bit of strength I do have. I am still not sure why I said I would do it! I regret the decision but I am a man of my word and will not give up until it I have completed it. The purpose for completing this challenge is to help raise £500,000 so that my organisation IFightFor CIC can help young people across the UK through social action projects. Rather than get a job I want to create my own job for the benefit of others. In life, I have learnt you should do what you love or love what you do. Doing a social work degree my aim has always been to help other people and having come to the final stages of graduating and completing my degree, I have decided that the best way for me to fulfil this is too be led by you! This is why I am asking your help to donate, if you can and share this post. We all know that the UK right now is unsure of what will happen, what the outcome of brexit will be and who what will be the election result. That is why I want YOU to be a part of IFightFor’s journey& mine as I travel the length of the UK. Steve Jobs said 'remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart'. So moving forward as I look to create a my journey I ask you come with me. I have created a crowd funding page and ask that you share this link and donate if you can. (Link will follow in due course). Thank you to everyone who said I couldn’t I say watch me dream. To everyone who said my dream was silly or stupid, I say watch me take action. When I was a kid, you said I would not, so I did. I am at a place in my life where I am finally happy. Thanks to you, I achieved those dreams you said where stupid. Thanks to you, I might be a little broken, a little mad but I am happy being me! Thanks to you, I am at a point in my life where, I do not know what tomorrow will bring but that is why I keep going. You can laugh, you can stare but while you do, I am going to carry on doing me.
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AuthorBrain tumour survivor. Ambassador, campaigner and co-founder of #IFightFor Archives
January 2019
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