Case Studies
SkillForce - Amber's Story
Since telling her story, Amber has been working with SkillForce for one day a week as part of her college course. She has assisted the East Kent Team on two residential camps, proving to be an excellent role model that both our male and female students look to for support and guidance.
Amber's Story:
I am 18 years old and at college in Kent. I am studying for a Diploma in Childcare & Education and all going well I will graduate in the summer of 2011.
I went to school in Margate between 2004 and 2009. My early recollection of school was that it was a miserable experience. I was always getting in to trouble; I was excluded more times than I care to remember. Sometimes, this was my fault but on other occasions I felt my reputation went before me. I expected strict discipline but did not get it and, no matter how I behaved, would continually get
chances.
I used to get wound up very easily by teachers and other pupils, leading me to lose control of my temper. This led to frequent exclusions. I felt I was bright and could do the school work easily without anyone having to teach me. I had a ‘know it all’ attitude. I was always getting into trouble; school became a social place for me and not a place of learning.
In 2007 it was recommended by my Head Teacher that I take part in the SkillForce programme. I wasn’t forced into it, but they were pretty keen that I gave the course a try.
I started the programme and found out very quickly that I got the respect from the staff. They had boundaries and were quite disciplined but they still allowed us to be able to enjoy ourselves.
Everyone else in school thought it was a dumping ground for naughty students but the laugh is on them.
For me personally I felt that I was learning in school for the very first time. We all felt we were being pushed to achieve and high standards were expected of us.
We learnt about life, often from actual experiences, and had a more proactive approach to things in comparison to other lessons.
I learnt a lot about self control; I really looked forward to my SkillForce classes on a Friday and soon realised that my behaviour elsewhere in school was improved by being part of the SkillForce group. Teachers who thought I would be permanently excluded started to see my true potential. For the first time I felt as if I was being supported and my confidence and self esteem grew. I feel a lot of what happened to me was due to the belief my SkillForce instructors had in me.
I don’t think my teachers, parents or friends held much hope in me getting the qualifications I needed to take me beyond school. I managed to attain 10 GCSE’s at grade C and above along with my SkillForce Awards and Qualifications. I have just been offered a place at a Kent University in Early Years and Education Studies. I am now volunteering as a classroom assistant with SkillForce and I can see a lot of me in some of the students. I believe I have a bright future ahead and that means a lot to me and my family.
Finally, if I could say anything to SkillForce it would be this: “Thank you for showing me how to choose wisely for life and for the realisation that if you want to do something you can. All you have to do is work hard, apply yourself and be respectful to others. For this I am eternally grateful; the course of my life has changed and so much for the better.”
Further information:
Visit www.skillforce.org