Sorry I’ve been a bit quiet recently, I’ve been enjoying my summer, everything’s good though and my treatment is still working better than ever. So here goes my next blog post...
When I was younger, I had big dreams and always wanted to be a swimmer/a footballer or a presenter on Sky Sports News then I realised as I got older I enjoyed the sports but I wasn’t that good at it (got to be honest) and I definitely wasn’t committed enough to do anything like that. Plus I would’ve been an awful Sky Sports presenter since I can’t even string a sentence together when I’m talking to my friends...
I started setting my sights on more realistic careers like being a physiotherapist when I was doing my GCSEs. I thought it still had a connection with sport but it was something I could really see myself doing, so I went to sports college. Then while I was at college I got diagnosed with MS which made me stop and think actually if I’m getting symptoms like losing the feeling in my hands then I wouldn’t be a very good physiotherapist.
This is when I was stuck and had no idea what I wanted to do... probably a feeling everyone has had at one point in their life. I had to think of how my MS could affect me, which is not the easiest as it’s an unpredictable illness. I decided to go and see a careers councillor and long story short I ended up at Sunderland uni doing PR.
In my final year I applied for a internship at the Works. I didn’t know what to expect, id only worked in John Lewis at the weekend but I somehow managed to get the job as an Account Executive.
I was scared to tell them about my MS. I didn’t want to make a fuss and think of me as disabled but it was important that they knew. I’ve had two relapses since I’ve worked there and they’ve been great in the situation. I’ve had the help and support I’ve needed when I’ve needed it, but anyone who knows me knows I don’t like to ask for it!
Four years down the line I’m still at the Works and I’ve just been promoted to an Account Manager.
Since I was 18 I’ve always had in the back of my mind that my MS will hold me back and if it did get bad, I might not even have an option of a career. But the thing is with MS you can’t think of it like that. It’s so unpredictable you can’t wait around for it to potentially affect your life, you’ve got to take the opportunities that are in front of you.
I’ve worked hard over the last few years to get to where I am and although my MS can impact my life, it doesn’t stop me living it!
