...so, let's kick things off.

I'm the guy running towards the plethora of potential pathways in the image above. Not sure what the next steps are, and don't yet see where it'll take me.

I just completed a Social Science degree. I was a mature-aged student, I started when I was 51, and that was in 2019. As a 54-year-old graduate, it is both thrilling and scary to embark upon a whole new career.

And what career is that, I hear you ask. Great question, and thanks for asking. Well, my field of study was Youth Work, so...youth worker? Umm...yes, but what is that? 

Super question, and believe me, one that students ask all the time too. 

One of my lecturers, the fantastic Dr Phil Daughtry, put it this way;

"Youth workers are people who bring theoretical frameworks, professional helping skills, and ethical standards into  activities and conversations with young people – imaginatively transforming what happens in formal spaces such as offices and classrooms as well as many informal settings outside of offices and classrooms – all the time looking as if they're 'just hanging out and having a chat'."  

So, that's youth work, but that doesn't sound like a specific career?  You're right, but it does describe the sort of person I want to be in any workplace, to be honest.

Imaginatively transforming whilst just hanging out and having a chat, now that's the sort of worker and colleague I aspire to be.

Unfortunately, none of those particular words goes down well in a job interview; it could come across all 'lazy maverick' for your average Manager or HR officer. On the other hand, of course, these are 'stealthy' soft skills, not gregarious 'look at my credentials' type things. The art is in the weaving of them into the conversations, interactions and scenario answers. So far, I am zero from two with interview success, yet, determined not to be deterred or detracted.

The journey of study ends, and the journey into vocation begins. For a 54-year-old with two autistic children at home, it is a case of mustering the energy required, but hey, like Forest Gump said...no, not 'stupid is as stupid does', thank you!

'I figured since I'd gone this far...I might as well just...keep right on going.'