Tag: Personal Development

UK National Volunteers’ Week 2020

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

Winston Churchill

But what do you get out of it? Surely it’s just a waste of time no? Wouldn’t it be better to get paid for doing something you enjoy? You can’t be doing this all your life (they say in a patronising, condescending tone). While the statistics clearly show that the current generation of people are spending more of their time volunteering than ever before, providing valuable support and huge kindness to various industries like healthcare and education, it must be said that the negative statements listed above are still very much commonplace for many people invested in the voluntary sector. I myself have received similar criticism, therefore I wanted to highlight the benefits that being involved in such activities can bring. Whoever you are or whatever you’re interested in.

When I first encountered the volunteer world back in March 2017, I was certainly at a crossroads in my life. With a lack of direction and no idea how I wanted to progress, I came across an organisation called URPotential in Blackpool. Providing support to local people via community groups, classes and teaching people valuable skills like the use of IT for job-hunting, I firmly enjoyed the aspect of meeting new people (both staff and people coming in) and gaining an insight into some of the great things they did as an organisation to make a difference, help others and give people’s lives a genuine, much needed and deserved boost. For the first time in a while, I felt a sense of passion and belonging. And all that was down to the power of voluntary work.

In the months prior to starting here, I was suffering from severe bouts of depression, increasing levels of anxiety and various other things, however just by getting involved in URPotential I noticed a significant change in my moods and behaviours. Had I shied away from this opportunity, it is quiet possible that the experiences I had to come would never have happened. Yes I was extremely nervous going in, yet the structure and routine it provided me set me on a path that I could work from. No fancy, lavish pay check was needed for that.

Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.

James Matthew Barrie

Having finished my role as a volunteer at URPotential in early 2017, to begin a traineeship at college, it wasn’t until March 2018 when my next stint as a volunteer could come about. If you’ve been a reader of my blogs for a long period of time, you’ll probably have seen my previous posts about the Time to Change movement and Mind. As I look back at beginning my campaigning in the mental health sector roughly 2 years on now, I’d have to say that it has produced some of the most rewarding, incredible experiences I’ve ever had. And for that I feel very fortunate and privileged. I certainly didn’t envisage standing up in front of large audiences sharing my mental health story, doing events nationwide or being invited to do radio interviews etc. Not in a million years did I believe I’d develop the confidence to do such things!

While the notion of helping and making a difference to other people’s lives through these sort of activities is a fantastic achievement, the sense of enrichment and fulfillment it gives to you personally is the icing on the cake. You may step into volunteering with the idea of keeping busy, having structure and possibly helping a few people along the way, however the biggest surprise to me was just how brilliant it felt to make a difference to others, and the fact it helped me fight my own demons hugely too. It can be very easy to suppress rather than express our emotions when life becomes challenging, yet through volunteering I realised just how valuable storytelling and being open with my feelings has been. And the outcome could be the same for you!

Although it’s distinctly possible that you may encounter critics (as I mentioned at the start), the important thing to remember is that you should do what is best for your own development. Not what is expected of or what somebody else wants- that will only leave you feeling restricted and resentful. Whether you want to help on the frontline during the lockdown, support the elderly by buying food supplies, or perhaps become a listener on a mental health helpline, I’d 100% encourage you to get involved.

After all what’s the harm in trying? The chances are that you’ll enjoy it way more than you first imagined, and meet plenty of inspirational people along the way. My experiences are testament to that!

Visit the links below for more details 🙂

https://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/

https://do-it.org/

Thanks for reading,

Adam

Adam HowardLeave a comment

The Next Chapter…….

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

Nelson Mandela

Now if somebody would have told me back in September that my access course would finish this April, a whole 3 months prior to the propose end date in June, I’d have laughed them square in the face. Yet low and behold, that is exactly how events have unfolded. And there’s nobody more shocked and flabbergasted than me. I promise you that!

When I enrolled at Blackpool and the Fylde College in August 2019 planning to study social science, it was nearing 3 years since I decided to leave sixth form after 3 months. A decision that undoubtedly changed the course of my life forever. While the crippling self-doubts, anxiety and perfectionism remained heading into this course, mainly because of what happened previously, I also began this new challenge with a sense of hope, determination and a plan of what I wanted to achieve. The person I was back at sixth form was completely different to the one I am now.

Though the realist in me appreciated how incredibly difficult passing the equivalent of 2 A-Levels in a period of 9 months- and managing a stressful workload would be- the prospect of studying sociology and psychology was something that hugely interested and compelled me. Whereas at sixth form I was incredibly unhappy, burdened by debilitating social anxiety and absolutely hated the subjects I chose at the ‘last minute’, the break I took from education allowed me to mentally refresh and workout what I wanted from life. What was my purpose? How would I achieve my goals? Was there anything I need to improve or get better at?

I know the traditional route of progressing seamlessly from school to college to uni to job works for some (and if so great), but the stark reality is that we all take different paths. While some people around me questioned my decision to take such a substantial break from education, I can definitely say now that it was the best thing I ever did. The stress was very frustrating and the pressure sometimes unbearable, yet if I didn’t make that bold choice who knows where’d I be now? Possibly in a job that I hated or already at uni doing a course that bores the life out of me.

By taking a step back, focussing more on my mental wellbeing and seeking much-needed support, I gained hugely rewarding life experience. No I wasn’t progressing academically, however one could argue that personal development is much more valuable. From getting into campaigning, meeting new friends and generally becoming more equipped to navigate life and what it throws at me, it provided me with the confidence to return to college and pass with ‘flying colours’. Not that it was easy may I add.

Although it’s slightly anti-climactic that the course has just been curtailed by coronavirus and average grades are being used as a measure of overall attainment, I am pleased that the hard work and dedication I have given over the last 6 months was reflected in the quality of my work and the grades I subsequently achieved. Certain moments were extremely tough, and I questioned whether it could be done, but I got there in the end and proved my own self-doubts emphatically wrong. It takes a lot to make me smile sometimes but achieving this is definitely not one of these instances. (Even if I have had to do less work).

As daunting as it may seem to move away to Chester in September, meeting plenty of new people and studying at an even higher level, I’m trying my best to use my experiences of progressing through college to tell myself that it can be done. That I can get a degree. Without a doubt uni will get hard, and yes I may be a ‘rabbit in the headlights’, however with the right commitment and guidance why can’t I get where I want to be? And the same goes for you!

The perception that people with mental health problems are lazy and incapable is so far from the truth. Having a mental illness doesn’t make you weak nor unable to have success- and that’s a fact! *Repeat this to the people around you*

Roll on September…… only 5 months to go!!

Thanks for reading,

Adam

Adam HowardLeave a comment
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