When did you leave Chesterton Community College?

2016

What is your current job title or field?

Team Leader in a Specialist Domestic Violence Refuge within the Charity Sector

Did you know as a teenager which career you wanted to pursue or did you come to realise this later on?

I always knew I wanted to work to help people, and that I wanted to work directly with them. My parents have both worked in the support and charity sector, and I always took a keen interest in history, sociology and politics. I knew I wanted to make a real positive difference to people’s lives. 

How did you start on your career?

I started work as a support worker in supported accommodation for adults with autistic spectrum conditions. This was off the back of focussing my university studies around disability discrimination.

What do you like about your job? High points?

Being able to help people out of the toughest point in their lives, and being there to support them where they have often been let down by others. Seeing people’s own progress and coming back to themselves after overcoming huge adversity. It is a long journey but playing a role in that can be extremely fulfilling.

What is the first advice you would give a student wanting to follow in this direction?

Try lots of different things and find out what you enjoy most. People will always need to be supported at some point in their lives, so there are plenty of opportunities within the sector. I would advise trying to get a voluntary or assistant support worker position to see if it is for you, and to get valuable experience.