Thank you for such honesty when describing your struggle, Sarb. Hopefully you are working with young people across this age range as you will have such an awesome understanding of the confusion of the developing brain, and the difficulties involved in working out a pathway to the future.
Thanks Sarb. These sorts of stories are hard to revisit and often still raw. I had a similar experience. I found my way in the end, but only after a few failures. In retrospect, I would have benefited from four or five years in the workforce or just being out on my own before university. I do wonder how our system could/should change to give undeveloped brains (especially boys) more space and time.
Aug 16, 2022·edited Aug 16, 2022Liked by Sarb Johal
Gosh reading your story brought back memories. I went to school in the same era as you in the 80s UK. When It was time for me to choose my subjects I was good in the Creative Arts, but my father was adamant that I should do Technical Drawing, Math, Physics and Chemistry. Dad wanted me to follow in his footsteps of Marine Engineering.
So I did and 40 years later I’m so far removed from marine engineering! My parents had a farm at the time so they pushed me in that direction as a plan B and that lasted 4 years but not enough to take it over! An offer to go to South Africa for 6 months was a welcome relief sadly during Apartheid. I rather enjoyed working on the dairy farm and how funny that I now live in NZ the perfect place to own your own dairy /arable farm. I’m pleased Sarb you worked out what you really aspired to and how to get there eventually with the right support. I could have too I guess I just didn’t have the confidence or the encouragement at the time. No-ones fault my parents had the best intentions.
My claim to fame now is that I have the most random quirky qualifications that are pretty useless to me in my fifties but I guess I had amazing experiences along the way.
Who else on here has an HGV license that one can only use in in South Africa! I win :)
There are few straight paths in life.
Thank you for such honesty when describing your struggle, Sarb. Hopefully you are working with young people across this age range as you will have such an awesome understanding of the confusion of the developing brain, and the difficulties involved in working out a pathway to the future.
Thanks Sarb. These sorts of stories are hard to revisit and often still raw. I had a similar experience. I found my way in the end, but only after a few failures. In retrospect, I would have benefited from four or five years in the workforce or just being out on my own before university. I do wonder how our system could/should change to give undeveloped brains (especially boys) more space and time.
Gosh reading your story brought back memories. I went to school in the same era as you in the 80s UK. When It was time for me to choose my subjects I was good in the Creative Arts, but my father was adamant that I should do Technical Drawing, Math, Physics and Chemistry. Dad wanted me to follow in his footsteps of Marine Engineering.
So I did and 40 years later I’m so far removed from marine engineering! My parents had a farm at the time so they pushed me in that direction as a plan B and that lasted 4 years but not enough to take it over! An offer to go to South Africa for 6 months was a welcome relief sadly during Apartheid. I rather enjoyed working on the dairy farm and how funny that I now live in NZ the perfect place to own your own dairy /arable farm. I’m pleased Sarb you worked out what you really aspired to and how to get there eventually with the right support. I could have too I guess I just didn’t have the confidence or the encouragement at the time. No-ones fault my parents had the best intentions.
My claim to fame now is that I have the most random quirky qualifications that are pretty useless to me in my fifties but I guess I had amazing experiences along the way.
Who else on here has an HGV license that one can only use in in South Africa! I win :)