Your beginnings don’t define you✨
I used to be embarrassed about the fact that I didn’t have a father figure present in my life. Throughout my teenage years, I was adamant about changing my surname to my mother’s maiden name as her family raised my twin sister and I from Day One. Given the fact that I grew up in a single parent household, things weren’t so easy. I remember going through the Argos catalogue (if you know, you know), and circled everything I wanted. But deep down, I knew we couldn’t afford it.
I used to be embarrassed about the fact that I had free school lunch meals when I went to state schools, as most people around me were able to afford lunches.
I used to be embarrassed about the fact that I was one of two black girls (the second person being my twin sister) in my entire primary school. Due to people’s comments, I used to hate having my natural hair out as a child, and spent so many years hiding my hair in braids.
Social Mobility Day is a very important day for me because all these years later, these things no longer bother me. As an adult, I have learnt to embrace all the things I used to find so negative and see them as my strengths. Being in a single parent household has taught me so much about hardwork and emotional resilience. Being a recipient of free school meals has taught me how to be grateful of everything you have in the moment. Being one of the only POCs in the room has taught me that I have a right to be where I am, and I shouldn’t hide my true self.
As a volunteer at The Black Apprentice Network (BAN), we strive support black students of underrepresented areas into amazing apprenticeship opportunities. Never in a million years did I think I’d ever be where I am today due to teachers not motivating me to aim high, particularly in my first secondary school. However, being an apprentice has enabled me to learn an immense amount from my colleagues, university and peers for nearly two years, whilst having the opportunity to network with individuals in the industry. And this is only just the beginning.
What’s your story?
#socialmobilityday #degreeapprentice
Senior Relationship Manager, Enterprise Service (HR Benefits) Delivery at HealthEquity
2moSandy Gleason, CFCI, HSAS - You are to be commended for taking the time to recognize the worth and contributions of your Interns! To empower Interns today is to guarantee society and business have a tomorrow! ❤️