Probably about the time that high school teachers were telling me I needed to pick a career and work out my career path. I decided that most of what they were telling me was really not for me. I did not want to be trapped in one career. I did not want to be enslaved to a mortgage. I did not want to waste my youth and energy. I knew I was achieving Grade A in all my subjects and 100% in every Maths exam. I saw this as a result of my parents training us from before we ever started Primary school. My parents gave me the greatest advantage – teaching me to read – and training me to listen and comprehend. When I went to Primary school, I particularly found comprehension exercises helpful in ensuring that I read with purpose.
So…at the age of 14, I became more confident that when I was finally free of school, I could do almost anything I wanted to earn a living because I knew how to read and how to learn. I knew there would be certain jobs that were never going to be for me – Butchery (I have been vegetarian since the age of six) and Surgery (because I go faint when I see operations on TV).
At the age of 16, I chose my career as an un-paid volunteer for charities. Never looked back – never stopped learning exciting new skills – never stopped teaching and training other volunteers. The earning a living part of my working life – I have done all sorts – worked in Finance, Auditing, Legal Secretary, Receptionist, Administrator, Clinical Administrator, Medical Receptionist, Customer Services, Parties/Events Organizer, Cook, Waitresss, Gardener, Paint/Decorator, Animal Care (ponies, cows, sheep, chickens, dogs, cats, fish, stick insects), Care for patients who were terminally ill, Care for patients with dementia.
But it is my life as a volunteer that has brought the most exciting roles – all sorts of construction and renovation assignments, first aid, installation of events at arenas and stadiums, sign language interpreter, a huge array of teaching and training roles, administrative roles, finance and auditing roles, public speaking, relief assignments, rescue and support for victims of violence.
I am so glad I shunned the advice of my teachers at school. I have avoided becoming trapped in one career. I have avoided becoming enslaved to a mortgage. Earning a living – food, clothing, shelter has not been anywhere near as costly as I feared as a teenager. I have lived in some really stunning properties – mostly rent free as the owners were overseas for months at a time, and been insured to drive their vehicles.
Life has been wonderful. I have been honoured to meet inspirational people who have overcome monumental challenges and survived horrors and deprivation, and been able to go on to thrive as they share their experience and passion to see others freed from abuse.
I am so glad that my parents taught me to read. Reading has been a foundation skill that has helped me tremendously. But there are other important skills that can make a difference – being willing to take on any task, to learn new skills and be a beginner again and again before becoming accomplished, being humble – allowing others to teach you and share their tips, trust, contentment that sometimes it feels as if you own nothing and are sleeping in the most basic conditions but remembering that if you have access to running water and a shower, a fridge and other kitchen white goods, you have access to far more than hundreds of millions of people can dream of.
Cyranny's Cove 
I’m still not sure I have lol
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I’m still trying to figure that out.
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The day I retired.
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Probably about the time that high school teachers were telling me I needed to pick a career and work out my career path. I decided that most of what they were telling me was really not for me. I did not want to be trapped in one career. I did not want to be enslaved to a mortgage. I did not want to waste my youth and energy. I knew I was achieving Grade A in all my subjects and 100% in every Maths exam. I saw this as a result of my parents training us from before we ever started Primary school. My parents gave me the greatest advantage – teaching me to read – and training me to listen and comprehend. When I went to Primary school, I particularly found comprehension exercises helpful in ensuring that I read with purpose.
So…at the age of 14, I became more confident that when I was finally free of school, I could do almost anything I wanted to earn a living because I knew how to read and how to learn. I knew there would be certain jobs that were never going to be for me – Butchery (I have been vegetarian since the age of six) and Surgery (because I go faint when I see operations on TV).
At the age of 16, I chose my career as an un-paid volunteer for charities. Never looked back – never stopped learning exciting new skills – never stopped teaching and training other volunteers. The earning a living part of my working life – I have done all sorts – worked in Finance, Auditing, Legal Secretary, Receptionist, Administrator, Clinical Administrator, Medical Receptionist, Customer Services, Parties/Events Organizer, Cook, Waitresss, Gardener, Paint/Decorator, Animal Care (ponies, cows, sheep, chickens, dogs, cats, fish, stick insects), Care for patients who were terminally ill, Care for patients with dementia.
But it is my life as a volunteer that has brought the most exciting roles – all sorts of construction and renovation assignments, first aid, installation of events at arenas and stadiums, sign language interpreter, a huge array of teaching and training roles, administrative roles, finance and auditing roles, public speaking, relief assignments, rescue and support for victims of violence.
I am so glad I shunned the advice of my teachers at school. I have avoided becoming trapped in one career. I have avoided becoming enslaved to a mortgage. Earning a living – food, clothing, shelter has not been anywhere near as costly as I feared as a teenager. I have lived in some really stunning properties – mostly rent free as the owners were overseas for months at a time, and been insured to drive their vehicles.
Life has been wonderful. I have been honoured to meet inspirational people who have overcome monumental challenges and survived horrors and deprivation, and been able to go on to thrive as they share their experience and passion to see others freed from abuse.
I am so glad that my parents taught me to read. Reading has been a foundation skill that has helped me tremendously. But there are other important skills that can make a difference – being willing to take on any task, to learn new skills and be a beginner again and again before becoming accomplished, being humble – allowing others to teach you and share their tips, trust, contentment that sometimes it feels as if you own nothing and are sleeping in the most basic conditions but remembering that if you have access to running water and a shower, a fridge and other kitchen white goods, you have access to far more than hundreds of millions of people can dream of.
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Age 6. We got a TV and I understood that the people on the screens were ACTORS. I decided that was what I wanted to do
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Unfortunately, everything I considered never happened due to health reasons.
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I have always been drawn writing and art. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do since before kindergarten.
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