When I was 15 in school we got a week of work experience. I arranged to work at PPSA (Pembrokeshire Performance sailing Academy) a sailing centre in Pembroke dock. It is roughly an hour from home by car, but as I couldn’t yet drive I travelled by bus which took me 2 hours each way. I loved sailing and didn’t mind the journey too much, after all, I got to spend time on the water rather than at school which I hated. I helped with the maintenance of boats and trailers as well as painting the accommodation and creating concrete weights for buoys. I learned how much really happens behind the scenes. The final day was a CPD day for all the staff, this meant that everyone came in and we went sailing in “wizzy” boats, high-performance dinghies and skiffs. I’d never been allowed to sail these before, but I had the most incredible time. I loved the adrenaline of it and the other instructors were great to be around, I laughed so much and was sad when the week was over. But once the summer holidays had started I jumped at the chance to volunteer there. I became an assistant instructor which meant I could help other instructors teach.

Once I turned 16, through the Sea Cadets, I travelled up to Scotland with my best friend to complete our dinghy instructors qualification. After that I was on a casual contract so worked for the summer and during the holidays and I kept this up whilst at college. Then lockdown hit, and it hit me quite hard. I finished the first year of an art course in fashion and textiles but couldn’t complete the second year. The centre I was working at got funding from the government to run a 6-month Kickstart scheme, aimed at getting 16-25-year-olds into work post covid. The idea was to train people from complete beginners to watersports instructors. As I was already a sailing instructor this was obviously not going to be the case for me. I upped my skills in sailing, with on the water 1-1 coaching, and I’m now ready to become a senior instructor. I also received training in kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding and windsurfing as well as becoming a powerboat and jet ski instructor. The great thing was not only was I getting all the training and qualifications but I was also getting paid for it. The biggest thing I gained was simply confidence. At the start, I found even simple communication hard. I was very shy and hardly talked, but by the end, I was completely at home there and felt able to chat to complete strangers. Even standing up in a classroom to teach a group of 15 college kids was easy.

After the six months came to an end, I was invited to stay on over the winter to help train up 2 new Kickstart employees. and this is where I’m at now. The winter is over and the Kickstarts are fully competent and confident instructors. I spend my time teaching sailing mostly otherwise I’m maintaining the boats, our kit and the site. I’ve learned to work behind the scenes as well as to be a friendly face to everyone that comes through our doors.

So as a 20-year-old, I’m pretty happy with where my life has ended up. I get to spend the majority of my time on the water, doing what I love. I am surrounded by enthusiastic people with similar interests, and I’ve made some great friends along the way. I have constant opportunities to move forward and who knows where I’ll end up, I certainly don’t!