Never have I ever been so disappointed and full to the brim
with inexplicable feelings towards the Education system, the Government and the
challenges most of us face when it comes to both.
Having spent nineteen years in education, training to become
what I thought would be an employable individual seeking a role within the
arts, I still cannot succeed in a role which is undoubtedly suited to my qualifications,
experience and skill. During all my years in education I have worked hard in
many different sectors in the labour market. From stacking shelves, customer
service and sales to book editing, teaching and project coordination. I have a
positive approach to everything I do, I remain calm under pressure and offer
excellent communication skills. I can plan to cater for any needs. I can teach.
I can be an inspiration and I have the capacity to learn fast and well. Yet
here I am, twenty six years of age and still desperately seeking my dream job.
Hours of my time has been spent writing the perfect
applications to suit roles which I would love to achieve; programme managers
for arts charities, teaching roles in a performing arts environment and
learning officers or management within growing art establishments. More time
has then been spent, after being offered interviews, to prepare project plans,
budget materials and perfect answers to their questions, which aim to prove me
suitable for their role. But still I am unemployed with a list of sodden
excuses as to why I am not good enough.
I am a person who lives for laughter and love. I thrive on
positive thinking. I put in 110% effort in to everything that I do. My
qualifications range from diplomas to post graduate degrees. I volunteer, I am
caring, I am helpful and creative. I work both collaboratively and independently.
I am organised, good at prioritising workloads and enjoy pressure and being
busy. I have the biggest passion for achieving and doing everything I can to
succeed. I dream of becoming an asset to an organisation whose aim is to
inspire, particularly young people, through art forms and support these people
in achieving things they didn’t believe possible. I want to give young people
the best possible chance to succeed in life, because as we all know, it is a
tough life that we live.
Art is frowned upon. “it’s a drop out course” “it gets you
nowhere” “You will fail” BULLSHIT!
Art is so vast and so incredibly inspiring to not just young people, but all of us. Open your eyes and look around at all the beauty in this world; architecture, gardens, paintings, statues, literature, music. None of which would have been possible without an artistic, imaginative, creative mind. It can support people through difficult times. It can make people happy. It can provoke emotion we didn’t even know we could feel. Yet here we are telling our future that art is unnecessary. Wake up!
Art is so vast and so incredibly inspiring to not just young people, but all of us. Open your eyes and look around at all the beauty in this world; architecture, gardens, paintings, statues, literature, music. None of which would have been possible without an artistic, imaginative, creative mind. It can support people through difficult times. It can make people happy. It can provoke emotion we didn’t even know we could feel. Yet here we are telling our future that art is unnecessary. Wake up!
My biggest ambition is to make a difference in people’s
lives using art as a catalyst. Whether that be as a teacher, a project
coordinator or running an art organisation. I have never felt so passionate
about something in my whole life and I am being shot down for not having enough
experience or the correct skillset. Sue me for not having all these qualities
written down on a piece of paper and signed off by some dude who leans back in
his spinning chair all day. Give me a chance to PROVE it to you.
Fair play to all those people who attended the same
interviews I did and achieved the role. You must have bought more to the table
and for that, I congratulate you. Good for you for keeping the spirit of the
arts alive and being able to expose all your abilities, passions and experience
to the employer. I tried my best. I tried my absolute hardest to achieve. I worked
myself to the bone to be the best I can be. I wish it was enough. I wish I
could tell you that I have acquired the job that lets me practice all my
talents, my qualities my passions and my skillset. I want to make you proud of
me. Each and every single one of you. I want my Mum to be able to tell her
friends that I am happy as Larry working in the industry I long to thrive in. I
want my brother to feel inspired by his baby sister. I want my friends to hear
all the wonderful stories I have to share about my working environment. I’d
love to report back to my teachers, tutors and mentors that I am ‘living the
dream’.
There are so many emotions running through me at the moment.
My heart is literally pumping out a different one with each beat. Failure,
disappointment, strength, anger, loss, bravery, positivity, upset, passion,
determination, irritancy, rejection, pity… the list goes on and on. It is so
difficult to sit here and write this, but in the same way I feel more and more
relieved after each word.
What am I doing so wrong? What makes me so unemployable in
the field of work that I so badly aspire to be a part of? It is hard times. Rejection.
Rejection. Rejection. Rejection is my biggest fear and here I am, dwelling in
its hand. Keep going. Keep going. Keep going. Keep going is all that echoes
around my head.
To all of you who are working just as hard as I am to
achieve, to succeed, to be everything you wished to be when you were young… It
is a tough fight and dreams don’t work unless you do, so keep going. At least,
that is what I keep telling myself. A dear friend of mine sent me a card once,
which displayed the words “Be Bold, Be
Brave, Be You”. I try to live by this every single day – through all the
best times and all the bad times. Because that is all I have to give this
world; someone bold, someone brave, me.
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