When I was younger, I had dreams, but no drive and the realities of life hit me when I turned 18.

I was unhappy with where I was.

I confided in my PA [Personal Adviser working with the Local Authority], who referred me to Drive Forward Foundation. That is when Daniel, my Career Specialist at Drive Forward, contacted me. I told him “I want to get a job as an NHS nurse, but I don’t have relevant work experience or qualifications”. He instantly reassured me that we could navigate this journey together one step at a time.   

My dream of working in healthcare stemmed from my past experiences. I used to get very stressed when I was a teenager. It got to a very bad phase where I was passing out in public, and I would wake up in the hospital.

The hospital was like my second home.

The nurses were always there for me and felt like my most extensive support system. They were kind to me and always ensured I was physically and mentally alright. Since then, I have always visualised myself in that role and that position. 

Daniel and I went through so many applications together. I was applying for nursing associate’s positions and nursing degree apprenticeships. I kept applying to different roles with Daniel and kept getting rejected. I wanted to give up, but he continuously encouraged me to persevere.

Finally, I got accepted for an interview — for the highest-paying nursing associate’s position in the UK!  

I was more scared than happy when I got accepted for my interview. I was actually quite afraid.

With Daniel, I built my confidence, as I had someone to go through the interview questions, test me, and share my concerns. 

I knew that if I didn’t get this role, I would stop looking at healthcare positions altogether.

When I turned up for my interview, there were 100 to 200 other candidates there for the same position. I looked like one of the youngest. Everyone else had a grey hair or two. Everyone seemed experienced. I asked people what they used to do, and the typical response was, “I worked in a hospital for 20 years“. 

I was the eighth applicant to be called in.   

I went in, and the interviewer started asking me questions. I was stuttering and looking at my hands, but I answered all the questions she asked, still stuttering. I said, “Listen, I want to do this job“. She told me that I lived pretty far away, and I replied by telling her, “I am driven; please give me this opportunity, and I will give you results. Give me this job, and I will show you why I deserve it“.   

I didn’t hear anything back for a month. During this time, I was still actively looking at other jobs, but none were related to healthcare. I thought that I would never get into the NHS.    

Finally, they contacted me… I got the job! 

I am proud of myself. I am now at university, as my new job enrolled me on a fully paid-for nursing course on my second day of working there! Once I qualify, I will be a band four nurse, just one band away from being a qualified nurse.    

If I could give my previous self some advice, it would be “Don’t give up. Believe it or not, it will happen one day. You don’t know when that one day will be; I know it sounds cliche, but if you do the work, it will happen. Care doesn’t define you; nothing defines you. Only you define yourself.”

Drive Forward Foundation and Daniel have had a massive impact on my life. Daniel helped me so much; I can’t thank him enough; he is excellent. Daniel was the first person I called when I got my job and house. Last year, I told Daniel, “I hope to get a job in the NHS, and I hope to get my own place“, and Daniel said, “You will. You will if you believe you will“. I am happy to say that Daniel was right!