#BeBoldforChange

Hey,

Its #InternationalWomen’sDay today, so I’m going to leave a message with you that hopefully inspires young girls and women to follow their dreams and never let their passion and light be diminished by others.

I still like to think I’m young, I’ve only just reached the over 25 category, that still counts as early 20’s surely? When I graduated from university, I didn’t have a lot of experience, I graduated during the recession. What I sure did have was passion, tons of it. I was enthusiastic, energetic, driven and ambition was oozing out of me. All that passion and drive however, didn’t make it any easier for me to convince more experienced people to give me a chance.

At the beginning of my career, I had to compromise what I could offer and often spent my time doing things I didn’t want to be doing; working with people who didn’t treat me with the respect and compassion I deserved.  Spending hours on end doing jobs I didn’t love and that didn’t accelerate my learning was soul destroying!!! I kept asking myself, is it worth it, am I worth more than this, or is this my life now. I’m glad now to say, YES it was worth it.

In the end, all the No’s I received and all the proverbial rubbish that was thrown at me was worth it because it led me to the path that I am currently on. A path where I am 100% in charge of my own destiny and don’t need to rely on other people to pave a path for me.  I want to encourage others to build their own destinies too.

One thing I’ve learnt in my early 20’s is that you need to stand up for yourself. Believe in yourself because no one can believe in you if you don’t! Sometimes it’s hard, often we get bogged down by life, and the society that we live in; judgement, the perceived perception of what is cool and uncool. There is no room to be something you’re not and to have to prove your own self-worth or please others.  Never over-compensate and never let other judgements determine who you are as a person.

Don’t be disheartened by people who don’t value your self-worth, they aren’t worth your time.

“The power of the mind is the strongest and most significant asset one can have. Passion, self-drive, and curiosity — these things cannot be taught or acquire”

So, treat every day like its International Women’s day. Go out there and do your thing!

Katerina , Kent-Teach Manager