2025 was the year I turned 30 and became a trainee. When I was younger, I thought I would have it all figured out by now, but I’ve learnt life isn’t like that. My career path has been unconventional and amazing; I wouldn’t change it at all!
The university path that wasn’t right for me
After my A-Levels, I did what everyone was told to do: go to university. I had struggled with my mental health during my A-Levels and was told to ‘get through it and uni will be better’. So that’s what I did, I chose a subject I enjoyed and applied to universities based on the grades I was getting. But all I was doing was delaying the inevitable of deciding what I wanted to do when I was older.
University went as well as you can expect with someone who was masking neurodivergence and struggling with their mental health. Now, I’m not saying you can’t go to university with neurodivergence and mental health issues, but you do need support that wasn’t in place for me. After a year of studying and things not getting better, I decided to take a year off. During this time, I volunteered with a couple of different charities, getting experience in a variety of departments, including PR and events.
My unexpected adventure working in a school library
At the end of the year, I decided academia wasn’t for me and carried on volunteering. I knew I needed to get a job but had no idea where to start. Through volunteering, I was given helpful advice, training and experience that I could add to my skill set.
I happened to come across an opportunity to work in a school library. I loved reading, needed a job and wanted to encourage students to read. I spent 2 years as a library assistant still not understanding what I wanted to do as a career. Teaching didn’t appeal to me, and the school environment was not one I enjoyed working in.
An abundance of hobbies
So, it was back to the drawing board. I spent the next couple of years trying to figure out what I wanted to do while working part-time at an optician store, including setting up an online bakery. I found that this sucked the joy out of baking for me, and I made the decision to keep it as a hobby- much to the annoyance of my parents who thought I had finally found my path.
I also move through hobbies quite quickly (see again, undiagnosed neurodivergence 😬). During lockdown, I picked up embroidery, crocheting and scrapbooking as well as baking. It was an interesting time for everyone. Weirdly, I didn’t bake any banana bread during lockdown. But also, I couldn’t have a business for every hobby I had.
“Here I remembered something important about myself, I wanted to help people and make a difference.”
Seeking support: employment advice that changed everything
Finally, I did what I should’ve done years ago; I reached out for some professional employment advice. Specifically, employment advice for disabled people. This was amazing, the support I was given not only helped me find a job but also acknowledged the parts of my anxiety and neurodivergence that I had been struggling with. I thought I had to keep this hidden, not mention it to employers and pretend like I could do any job without adjustments. My employment adviser was the first person who made me feel like I could be completely myself and thrive. Here I remembered something important about myself, I wanted to help people and make a difference.
In a turn of fate, a role opened with a different employment service for the same charity. I worked as a customer coordinator and built my experience in employability, copywriting and DE and I. I loved this role and finally felt like I belonged somewhere and I was helping people who were in a similar position to me when looking for work. I was here for almost 3 years before I heartbreakingly realised there was no longer anything left for me to learn in that role. My choice was to take a risk and find something new that would allow me to grow or stay safe in a stable job . Making the decision to find a new opportunity where I would be able to progress in my career was a difficult one, but ultimately the best one. As much as I loved my role as a customer coordinator, I wanted to learn and focus on an intersectional approach to employability. As someone who is from multiple underrepresented backgrounds, I know how hard it is to have a few things stacked against you.
“The truth is, it’s not a step back. It’s a step forward, it’s an opportunity to grow and learn and, personally, that will never be a step back.”
Choosing growth over comfort
So, at 29 years old, I applied for multiple roles and was given the chance to interview for a traineeship with Creative Access. Some of you might be thinking ‘why I would step backward in my career?’ which I was also asked at my interview, but in a subtle way! The truth is, it’s not a step back. It’s a step forward, it’s an opportunity to grow and learn and, personally, that will never be a step back.
I am now a community and partnerships trainee, supporting our outreach team and Springboard programme. Working alongside some amazing people, I am learning all about copy and content writing, events planning, session facilitation and, most importantly, supporting Creative Access’ vision to make the creative industries a more diverse and inclusive place.
Now I am thirty, thriving and loving my non-linear and non-traditional career and I can’t wait to see where it goes next. Remember: it’s not too late to change careers and it’s ok to not know what you want to do.
