Page 6 - the SyI Quarterly 13 - (V4)
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Know your Institute
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                                                                                                                                      As I moved forward, my business acumen put me in good stead, and my thirst for knowledge
                                                                                                                                      increased. I found new ways to reach the end goal and take others on that journey with me. Fast
                                                                                                                                      forward a few years and I used those skills to set up an educational centre for disadvantaged young
                          What’s your journey for                                                                                     people, became a senior youth worker and specialised in sexual health and substance misuse. I

                                                                                                                                      worked with vulnerable people and helped them to develop ways of keeping safe and supported many
                                                     2023?                                                                            women and children living in refuges who had chosen not to accept domestic violence as a normal
                                                                                                                                      way to live. I tutored young people who had dropped out of school not by choice but because of the
                                                                                                                                      actions of the adults around them – they were angry, could not read, write, or communicate very
                                                                                                                                      well. I worked on so many projects from launching a teaching assistants’ pilot to securing funding for
                                 By Angela Vernon-Lawson CSyP FSyI                                                                    afterschool care facilities in socially deprived areas where substance abuse and child neglect was at an

                                                                                                                                      all-time high.

                                                                                                                                      Gradually, I moved into writing policies and indirectly fell into business continuity, recognising how
                                                                                                                                      the pieces linked together to improve businesses and communities alike. I sat on various committees
                                                                                                                                      and talked to community gatekeepers on how to influence young people to make better choices
                                                                                                                                      and improve the sustainability of that community. Security, in its many forms, weaved in and out of
            As 2022 is nearing its end, many will be thinking about what the                                                          everything I did or was involved with. It became my new norm. I relished the opportunity to make a
            future holds, how they improve their personal and professional life.                                                      difference which I did with several projects. In 2007 I graduated from the University of Leicester to
            It is a challenge. It is tough but only the individual can take the steps                                                 further advance my career and use my skills to enhance the learning experience of others especially
            to make those changes. For some it is superficial and they want a                                                         in Higher Education. I have also supported the development of multiple training centres, and worked
            visible outward facing ‘I am a winner’ certificate, and on the flip side                                                  with numerous companies in an enterprise capacity, assisting them to be better, more productive, and
            there are those who struggle to identify where and how to start                                                           aspirational. I worked globally, often in testing situations with people I had not met before, but I always
            their next journey or to improve the track they are already taking.                                                       learnt something new! More importantly I have never regretted any part of my journey as I have
            Although I have been in security for a long time, my transformation                                                       met and worked with amazing people, who have influenced my decision-making process, with many
            really started as a single parent with two children and not much                                                          becoming friends. The learning experience has been second to none.
            else. I worked full-time and had an intermittent part-time job, but
            money was tight; I could have chosen to pull the emergency cord                                                           As we move nearer to 2023 there is no doubt, we will face testing times over the coming months. We
            and feel sorry for myself, but I didn’t. Instead, I chose education and                                                   cannot stop the world around us, but we can improve what we do as individuals. Most will experience
            went to night school at the local community college once a week                                                           a challenge (or two), but learn from it, do something different, volunteer to improve skills, and meet
            to do A levels. Some thought I was bonkers, and asked what was I                                                          new people. Developing a career pathway may or may not be challenging and does require an
            trying to prove? I was not trying to prove anything to anyone except                                                      element of self-preservation, wellbeing and resilience which comes in many guises.
            myself; that anyone can achieve their dreams, their aspirations,                                                          To this end the team at Head Office are working tirelessly to bring our members different topics and
            change their course but it takes dedication and commitment.                                                               events to develop personally and professionally. Many are free or low cost so do check your email for
                                                                                                                                      the eNews and mailshots for updates.
            Dedication turned into energy, a fire ball that ignited a passion
            for learning, growing, improving, and making a difference not only                                                        Meanwhile the team and I look forward to being part of your journey and supporting you in 2023.
            for me but for others. I started to think differently, I wanted to
            share the experience of how learning can change the course of
            travel not only for the individual but also those around them. I met
            people with different opinions which created the opportunity to
            debate, discuss and share ideas. It did not matter if you understood
            Shakespeare, climbed mountains, travelled extensively, or had
            dyslexia. Everyone had a tale to tell. Everyone wanted a different
            future to what they had, and I realised I was no exception. I also
            identified that in the future, I would be helping others to achieve
            their goals, their aspirations and their future career. What I did
            not have was a crystal ball to tell me my journey was going to
            be memorable, difficult and challenging - but never regrettable.
            Learning soon became the norm, and as a reflective/pragmatic
            learner it was a bit ‘Yin and Yang’ and testing at times adding to the
            challenge.


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