Results day reflections: finding your own path
There are around 190 school days each academic year.
In my third year of senior school (year 10), aged 14 and a half, I was absent from school for 120 days and late 26 times.
I absolutely loved learning but hated the school and environment I’d been placed in at age 11. In an attempt to fit in, I dumbed down my ability and dialled up my bad behaviour.
Nobody ever asked why I wasn’t at school, why I was late, or even simply, 'where were you?' To this day I have no idea how I managed to keep my truancy from my parents for so long.
I’d leave the house in the morning to go to school, using the side door, and walk around to the front to quietly sneak back in again and hide in my bedroom while everyone was at work.
Another time, a friend and I filled her parent’s attic with provisions and hid there for the day. It was very boring. Worse than being at school.
The end result? I left school with no qualifications, despite being a grade A hope in a number of subjects. Returning at my art teacher’s expense to sit my art exam, and then joining the sixth form a few months later to play catch up and prepare to study for degree in fine art. It didn’t happen.
Why share this?
Because not everyone has the best start in life.
Some of us develop survival techniques to cope with circumstances that might be unimaginable to others.
Others have seemingly charmed lives with everything falling at their feet.
Ultimately, there comes a point when we all must take personal accountability for the kind of life we want to live and take the steps needed to make it happen.
I chose to work hard and study part-time.
This began with getting a trade to fall back on. Through a Government sponsored course at the local college, I learned practical skills such as touch-typing, book-keeping, and other office-related stuff that is no longer relevant today.
A few years later, I started evening classes in marketing, excelling in the selling and economics modules. This led to a marketing degree with the Chartered Institute of Marketing, where I sat all four three-hour exams for the final stage in one week. A bit over-ambitious – I had to re-sit the case study (of course, I focused on my personal failure rather than the fact I’d achieved three out of four passes!)
Pictured left to right: 1st graduation in CIM Marketing Diploma, Birmingham; 2nd graduation - Internal Communication Diploma - at the Barbican with my wonderful classmates Ian MacKenzie, Jo Chapman and Susan Levy; 3rd graduation - all smiles after receiving an MA in Internal Communication Management.
Next was the Post Graduate Diploma in Internal Communications, topped up with a Master’s degree in Internal Communication Management through Kingston University. This was huge for me. And massively hard work while running my consultancy business, coping with divorce and being the primary carer for a mum with dementia.
My 20,000 word thesis - “Does internal communication impact customer service?” resulted in a commendation, thanks to the support and cooperation of the fabulous Ken Lee and Inchape Retail, and I attended my third graduation ceremony.
I’m proud to be the first generation in my family to have achieved this level of education.
Even though I did it the hard way, it showed me that there are many paths to where you want to be. So, if things haven’t gone the way you hoped, remember qualifications alone don’t define you or your future — there are always other routes, second chances, and new beginnings waiting for you.
Build skills, knowledge and confidence with internal comms qualifications
The Institute of Internal Communication (IoIC) have a range of opportunities to learn and develop, including the Level 4 Foundation Diploma, Level 6 Advanced Diploma and the MA Internal Communication Management, all delivered in partnership with Solent University. Find more details here.
The PR Academy have developed the very first internal communication course for the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR). Find the details here.
The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) have a range of course available, including the Diploma in Integrated Communications Management and Diploma in Change Management and Communication. More details here.
The Centre for Strategic Excellence is a global leader in strategic communication management and has a range of on-demand, virtual, and classroom training available. Join one of Ann-Marie Blake’s or Howard Krais’s masterclasses to build practical skills in change communication, employee listening, building employee networks, and inclusive communication.
👉Communicating with Clarity
👉Creating Brilliant Champion Networks
👉Welcome to the Age of Listening
👉How to Make Your Communication Inclusive and Accessible
👉Introduction to Change Communication
I’m Pauline, an internal communication specialist with over 30 years of experience in connecting leaders and employees to deliver results and help make work a great place to be.