Guest Post: Natasha Barton.
I asked Natasha to do a post for me, on anything she wanted and she has written a great piece, so enough from me and over to her!
(Many thanks again Natasha!)
My name is Natasha Barton, I'm 21 years old and in my second year of a four year apprenticeship.
Most people ask me why I wanted to become an electrician; the answer isn't a simple one I'm afraid! All through my life I chopped and changed my ideas of what I wanted to do when I left school. I'm pretty sure I looked into how to become a clown on a careers website at one point!
All of my friends knew exactly what they wanted to do and as we started sixth form, they were all attending open days for universities and looking at the best ways to write your personal statement. I still had no idea what I wanted to do.
Teachers constantly hounding me, one even telling me, 'if you don't go to university, you might as well sign on to the dole'. I knew I didn't want to go to university as there was nothing I was passionate about enough to fully engage myself in.
I used to work in a golf club part time and one man I spoke with was asking the usual question you would ask a teenager still in school: 'what are you going to do when you leave?'. He didn't seem shocked when I replied, 'I genuinely have no idea'. He then sat me down and asked me what it is I enjoy in school. I've always loved maths, science and art. He himself was an electrician and told me that being an electrician involves a little bit of all of those subjects.
That was it. As soon as I could, I was looking on careers websites, speaking to friends of friends who were electricians to find out a bit more about it. This was all very appealing and when I found out that I could get paid whilst I learned a trade, also it's predominantly hands-on learning, I knew that this is what was for me.
I applied for many apprenticeships whilst I was in my final year of sixth form. I constantly got knocked back and declined from businesses, but I kept trying!
I left sixth form in June 2013 and had a full time job in a potato factory to go to. It wasn't until the August of that year that I had heard back from one of the bigger companies, Lafarge Tarmac, about my application and after aptitude tests and an interview, I finally had bagged myself an apprenticeship!
My first year was at college five days a week and only being out on site at work when it was half term. I absolutely love college, I've met a great bunch of guys (I was the only girl in my class!) who some of I am still in their class now and others have left college but we still go on nights out in Edinburgh now and again.
A lot of people ask me the same question over and over: 'what is it like to be a female in a male-dominated work environment?'. It's a question I've never really understood if I'm honest. I've always been a bit of a tomboy and love getting my hands dirty. I've also always got along better with men than I have women so it's a win-win situation for me.
When I first came to work, most of the men were almost walking on eggshells around me, being careful what they said to me or when around me. It didn't take them long to realise that my sense of humour was probably cruder than theirs and now, they don't hold back!
I would be lying if I said it was sunshine and rainbows all the time, there have been difficult times at college and at work where I've seriously questioned why I chose the job, but it doesn't last long. You just learn to have thick skin and not get too bothered about the little things.
I absolutely love my job and where I work, there aren't many places that you could be repairing lights one day and working on 11kV motors the next. Oh and working with 100-tonne dumper trucks, the trucks are my favourite!
I would recommend anyone to do an apprenticeship, I know I'm only in my second year but I've already learned so much and get paid to do it! Why not get paid to learn something you love?!
My advice to anyone would be this:
It doesn't matter if you don't know what you want to do when everyone else tells you that you need to make your decision right now. It doesn't matter if you get knocked back constantly and someone tells you that you can't do it. If you are really passionate, driven and focused on what you want to do, persevere and good things will come your way.
My late granny always used to tell me 'anything that is meant for you, won't pass you by' and I'm a great believer in that.
A big thank you to Natasha!
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Thank you for reading!
