Could you tell me a time where you changed direction?

14/15 years old. The age where you have to start making choices and thinking about your future. 14 years old. Let that sink in.

Most people (like myself) can’t even decide what to have for their tea tonight let alone how their life will look in 10/20 years time. The pressure on young teens to look, be and do things a certain way immeasurable and it’s only getting worse.

Society has somehow conditioned us all in to this way of thinking whereby changing our minds is seen as a negative thing, or somehow even a failure. My personal and professional path has had more twists and turns than spaghetti junction, and only now I am in my 30’s that I am realising that it’s OK, and to embrace change rather than fear it.

When I was younger I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do. The thing that I was best at was talking to people. The jobs I preferred the most were working in restaurants where I got to just be myself and meet new people and be personable. I studied Law at University, surrounded by people who were the complete opposite of me, purely because I selected a career path based on me being good at communicating. I worked in the industry for 4 years, jumping from firm to firm because I didn’t think that was the right place for me. The next one surely would be. Wrong move. I’d build up this big idea that I’m a real life Elle Woods. Shit. What do I do now?

At 28, I became pregnant with my daughter and made a promise to myself that I’d never step foot in an office again when I returned from maternity leave. An opportunity came along to train to teach in my local area, even though I’d never imagined myself as an educator. I ticked the box for every single ingredient of a good teacher so I decided to go for it. Now I know that I was born to be a teacher, I just didn’t know it then.

Now I teach those 14/15 year olds who are looking to the future with apprehensive eyes. I don’t just teach them how to write essays and correctly punctuate their writing. I guide them on their choices, allow them to be human and make mistakes and tell them that it’s OK to not have everything figured out just yet. To enjoy their young lives and embrace every single opportunity that comes their way.

I teach them that happiness is a journey not a destination. Sometimes, I have to remind myself of these things when we are looking to the next goal, accomplishment, dream.

I am exactly where I need to be, and wherever I’m going, I’ll be needed there too.