I was ask to give a career talk at my son’s school to discuss working as a designer in Fashion. I was completely out of my comfort zone and I spent a ridiculous amount of time prepping to speak for fifteen minutes to a group of ten and eleven year olds, of which 80% actually want to be pro-footballers or You Tubers. It was scary! I did in the hope that what I was saying resonated with one or two of them and although I was SO nervous, I was also buzzing to do it.
Limited Options
Career talks back when I was at school were not that interesting to me. If I wanted to work as a Police officer or in the dentist it was fine, but a creative industry? nah, that wasn't an option. Telling my parents I wanted to be a fashion designer in the 90’s was like telling them I wanted to be a pop star, completely unattainable and almost bordering on the ridiculous. Luckily for me my Mum lived for this stuff. She made her own clothes and her obsession for The Clothes Show (remember that?!) rivalled mine, so her own creative side meant that her and my Dad championed mine. She began by finding me a work placement with a local Interior Designer off her own back, so when my friends were shadowing someone in the local Midland Bank I was creating a padded mirror frame for a famous cricketer's apartment. Not bad for a 13 year old's first taste of work. She taught me to grab every opportunity that was on offer and to enjoy it, so I did. I've always felt very driven with work and that definitely comes from this period of my life. I had a goal and we went for it.
A New Perspective
To nurture and encourage creativity in kids and to put value into the creative arts alongside the more academic subjects is should be embraced through education. Studying art at school is so much more than just being able to draw. It helps us to process the world around us, how to approach different areas of your life, to the way you solve problems or express yourself to others. But most of all its about having ideas and ideas can bloom into anything you want. The benefits of tapping into your creative side are endless and there are so many fun and interesting creative careers out there and they all begin with studying Art at school.
Image from @bobandrobertasmith
Limited Options
Career talks back when I was at school were not that interesting to me. If I wanted to work as a Police officer or in the dentist it was fine, but a creative industry? nah, that wasn't an option. Telling my parents I wanted to be a fashion designer in the 90’s was like telling them I wanted to be a pop star, completely unattainable and almost bordering on the ridiculous. Luckily for me my Mum lived for this stuff. She made her own clothes and her obsession for The Clothes Show (remember that?!) rivalled mine, so her own creative side meant that her and my Dad championed mine. She began by finding me a work placement with a local Interior Designer off her own back, so when my friends were shadowing someone in the local Midland Bank I was creating a padded mirror frame for a famous cricketer's apartment. Not bad for a 13 year old's first taste of work. She taught me to grab every opportunity that was on offer and to enjoy it, so I did. I've always felt very driven with work and that definitely comes from this period of my life. I had a goal and we went for it.
A New Perspective
To nurture and encourage creativity in kids and to put value into the creative arts alongside the more academic subjects is should be embraced through education. Studying art at school is so much more than just being able to draw. It helps us to process the world around us, how to approach different areas of your life, to the way you solve problems or express yourself to others. But most of all its about having ideas and ideas can bloom into anything you want. The benefits of tapping into your creative side are endless and there are so many fun and interesting creative careers out there and they all begin with studying Art at school.
Image from @bobandrobertasmith
