Greeting Visionaries, this is my story about transformation, resilience and perseverance.
A year before, March 2020 I was ready to take my next step in my career and become an Advisor within the prisons providing and supporting inmates with information, advice and guidance (IAG).
The health crisis pandemic began! At the time I was unable to grasp the severity of the situation. I thought all will be fine and I won’t have a problem starting my new job. As the days went by, we started getting more information and updates about the health crisis. I started feeling the anxiety of what will happen to my job. I really needed this.
I began to follow the news non-stop. Each day passed by. Each day, I was getting more worried. Questioning! What would I do now? How will I go to work? I don’t drive. If I needed to take a taxi that will cost me half my wages, by that time we were in full lockdown. I couldn’t predict what will happen next. Four days before my starting date, on a Thursday afternoon, I had a call.
We are SUSPENDING all recruitment. No new intakes! Will keep you updated... said the manager. I felt as if time stopped completely! I felt lost! I had no income, and I was living on my savings. Three weeks passed by and no one had contacted me.
I had to do something. I had to think out of the box -what can I do? I began to review and evaluate my situation holistically, I found myself returning back to basics seeing where I was professionally and as an individual. I started reviewing my beliefs, values, goals, skills, health and well-being. I listed the skills I’d developed so far and reviewed the knowledge I have gain through education, work and life.
How could I bring all of this together? I identified that I have a passion working with the community and the voluntary sector, I love supporting local and creative projects by bringing their vision to life.
Having previously worked in community rehabilitation, I was able to see people’s circumstances in order to support and empower them, by creating opportunities regardless of age, sexuality, gender, ethnic background, socio-economic status and abilities.
My vision started to formulate. After self-reflection, I saw myself working with local communities and organisations to jointly develop cultural events to encourage community engagement and participation. I wanted to showcase the creativity of the local people. I believe that people should have the opportunity to express themselves through the arts and for the arts to be accessible to everyone. I want to create a platform that brings individuals together and provides the opportunity to express their creative voice, grow, share knowledge and develop skills, and to include people who may be facing barriers in participation.
At the time I didn’t know the how and so I began volunteering.
During the current crisis I began helping at my local creative community grouped called Foleshill Creates. By regularly bringing ideas together with members and local artists to plan and deliver online and face to face workshops. I have organised sessions, supported members, I have helped to maintain a supportive, welcoming and friendly environment. This experience has helped me in learning about project management.
I mentored students through the VisionariesHQ collective. In particular I have been engaged with social media, fundraising and engagement, facilitating individual’s projects such as the EKIMELO which brought together students and members of BAME communities to promote good mental health.
I completed the six weeks Changemaker University programme delivered from Connecting for Good-Coventry. This included sessions on concepts and understanding social change and community engagement and I completed my information, advice and guidance (IAG) certificate for free.
Almost a year on, the hard work, resilience and perseverance paid off. In January 2021 I successfully secure a paid position as a Volunteer Assistant with an established charity organisation.
A year on, March 2021 and I am celebrating spring equinox, known in the scientific world as the Vernal Equinox. It symbolises the first day of the spring season and occurs when the sun passes the equator moving from the southern to the northern hemisphere.
For me? Energetically and spiritually it’s a time of transition and transformation from the dormant winter into the awakening of spring. A process that takes time and patience to transition into. I always thought that winter, is a time to slow down and reserve energy. Become the observer of your life and listen to your surroundings. Be present in those unique moments of life. Winter is a time for me to reflect where I was, where am I now, where am I going. (Though too much thinking burns my brain cells :-) . Spring is part of my awakening. Giving appreciation to all that I have learned, asking for forgiveness to all that I have hurt, and let go with gratitude and love to the things and situations that are no longer of service to myself and the greatest good. I have allowed all that has been, to be and I am living in the NOW with hope of what is new.
A year on, I’m continuing to support and develop my creative projects. I am where I am meant to be. I have become a creative community coordinator, community organiser, facilitator, consultant and work in community development. I have enhanced my skills through volunteering. I have the right people to help me and support me so I can carry on supporting and leading others to reach their highest potential.
A year on, lessons learned:
Review your skills - See how far you have got and where you want to get. Acknowledge what are your current barriers and consider what can you do to overcome them.
Ask for help - Who do you know that can guide you to the right direction or perhaps within your circle somebody knows someone that they can signpost you to.
Speak your truth.
Think out of the box - you have certain skills, how can you use those skills to help you get closer to your goal, how can those skills be transferable to something else you can achieve.
Face your fears- The uncertainty hasn’t left me, but I have gained the confidence that I can adapt in situations, be creative and think out of the box, find solutions, develop new skills that I don’t have and continue developing the skills that I have.
Be open- by being an active listener, transparent, professional and be kind.
Be present in the Now.
Self-care- Do things that brings you joy, learn something new.
Now, I am open to new opportunities with gratitude of the past. I continue learning and growing as a professional and as a person looking forward to new adventures, open to the magic of the unknown.
Sources:
Wellbeing:
Kind regards,
VisionariesHQ
Facilitating Your Next Steps
Let’s Connect, Create and Build
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