At the start of the year I had a little bit of a panic that I wouldn't have anything to blog about this season. I wondered what the season would hold and whether or not I would have anything near the experiences I had last season. Working on national events, travelling the country, meeting so many people and reaching a level of coaching I could never have dreamt of. Of course, I had my set backs, not making the National Youth Council was pretty devastating.. but I've learnt to control that disappointment and turn it into something positive. Like an arrow, having to backwards before propelling forwards.
I came back over summer, working at the Tesco Skills Centre, attending the county trials, starting my job.. all things which I have worked towards with my volunteering. Using my personal development to help my professional development. Not looking to impress people with my work load, but instead developing myself with the appropriate teams and opportunities. I genuinely thought that was me done, the odd county event here and there, and then developing events within my job.
Just to reiterate something which I quoted in my previous post, Football Futures is about developing people and helping them to reach their summit. This might be helping a player to develop a skill, or helping a peer to improve their confidence... The football part is kind of the common interest point.. the key is personal development.
The last few months have been difficult, being unsuccessful with 2 leadership opportunities with my university and BUCs. 2 opportunities which I would have loved, but I've had to deal with the frustration, learn from them and move on. Sometimes I start believing in fate and all that, and get all wrapped up in 'the one door closes, another one opens' saga. I'm starting to think that's true.
I've recently applied for The FA Changing Lives Programme, the pinnacle of the Football Futures Programme. 4 young leaders granted the opportunity to travel across the globe to deliver a football leadership course to provide peer leaders with knowledge and tools to continue a ripple effect and develop their communities.
I was over the moon after reading an email saying I had been offered an interview. Spinning around on my chair in the office, mega cheesey smile across my face, and I rang my parents to tell them the news in the same 5 minutes. Literally buzzin'.
A trip to Wembley Stadium for an interview, I read and re-read the email millions of times to make sure I had read it all correctly.. most importantly to make sure it was my name at the top. I was due have my interview with ISFA at Wembley last year, but that was moved to Sainsburys cafe, so I wouldn't wait to get the Wembley experience!
So a few days ago, I was at Wembley for my interview, walking in behind West Brom's Steve Clarke was surreal. Seeing all of the photos on the wall.. sounds weird.. but it felt like I was meant to be there.
Delivering my presentation and the interview was nerve wracking. But, I did it properly. None of the quick fire answers which I would have given a few years ago. Lots of eye contact. I was confident and able to take in the questions, pick out key parts and then find a suitable answer. Every now and then I looked to my left, out of the window and into the arena, seeing all of the thousands of seats and the hallow Wembley turf. If nothing else, I had just had an experience of a life time.
I came away from the interview knowing I had left everything I had in that room. Used up all of my best quotes, told all of my stories and I didn't leave any stone unturned. A great feeling knowing I had done all I could, but also a huge amount of apprehension.. knowing that 7 other people had done the exact same.
I know I said; it would be difficult to deal with the disappointment, but if I missed out to 2 of the other 3 females then congratulations to them. I know how hard they have all and continue to work within their communities.
The end to this journey is, it's not over. Steve rang me on my train home and offered me a place on the plane to Rwanda. My reply of 'You're joking' probably wasn't the right response.. but the feeling that hit me was unbelievable.
So, February half term, I'll be jetting off to Rwanda with the FA with 3 other young leaders who have also been selected. A fantastic reward, but an unbelievable opportunity. An opportunity to continue my personal and professional development, allowance for me to inspire people across the world through the language of football who will then pass on this inspiration to others.. lets just take that in.
Inspiring and developing people across the world.
I look forwards to the challenges that ly ahead. I also want to give this advice:
Football Futures and life is about developing and creating yourself; building yourself around people who will make you happy and those who allow this development to happen whilst standing by your side. By developing yourself and becoming the best version of you, you can actively develop others and inspire them to do the same. Opportunities come and go, but I honestly believe you get what you deserve in the end. Work hard at making a difference to you as well as those around you.. believe me it's being noticed.
Just because I've made it onto The Changing Lives Programme doesn't mean I'm a world beater, it doesn't mean my FF journey will end when I land back in England.. it means that my hard work is paying off and that I've got a challenge on the next level to continue down this road of development both personally and professionally.
Thank you for the messages of congratulations and support so far, they all mean so much. I don't know where I would be without my Football Futures Family, and of course my family whose support wouldn't have got me over the first hurdle of injury 3 years ago.
Going to sign this off with a line my Dad sent me yesterday and a video which has been sent to me:
The title ‘changing lives’ relates as much to changing your life as it does to changing the lives of the people you will meet in Rwanda. Dad
DREAM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-jwWYX7Jlo
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