Back in February (which feels a lifetime ago) I was given the opportunity to do some visiting tutor hours as part of the business and enterprise team at Bishop Grosseteste University here in Lincoln, I was teaching two modules for the first years and although I’ve been a trainer for over 20 years I’ve hardly done any online training, in fact, I don’t think I’ve done any! My style of teaching/training does fit with the online model as I like to do lots of hands-on tasks etc, however, due to the restrictions, I had a steep learning curve not only to teach online but in using Microsoft Teams effectively (hats off to all the teachers/lecturers who have had to do this the last 18 months) and changing my natural teaching style to account for the limitation of online teaching, at times it brought me to tears and I questioned why I said yes but as I got to know the students more and used to the online tutoring the tear became less and less.
Since finishing these modules, I’ve taken on a more permanent role as a part-time lecturer which is a fantastic opportunity which I plan on embracing with everything I’ve got.
This will take some adjusting as over the last decade I’ve got very used to working on my own to my own agenda and calendar, this has been made a whole lot easier as I’ve got a fab team which wonderfully supportive colleagues who have been very kind and generous with their time to help me settle into the role.
A role like this is beyond my wildest dreams if I’m honest with the challenges I had when I was at school and the very unsupportive teachers and careers advisor who basically wrote me off as being too thick to do A-Levels!! I am so glad that the career guidance that children get now has much improved, I know this first-hand as I’m part of the give an hour scheme which encourages professionals to give an hour or more to go into schools to talk about their careers and the types of roles they might do.
Although this is a great opportunity, it has taken me a bit of time to get my head around it (hence why this blog post is a little later in the month than usual) as Firecracker is also my dream it felt like it was slipping away from me and I had failed! Firecracker is still alive and kicking & I now believe that the work I’ll be doing at BGU will only enhance what I offer to organisations, all the modules I will be teaching are connected to what Firecracker does, what a great position to be in as now I can develop my skills & knowledge for my own development but also support the next generation of business professionals. So the cogs are turning in my brain to develop some more workshops and courses for Firecracker with my newfound knowledge and watch this space as they say!! Another advantage with this role is that I possibly can influence the culture and wellbeing from the inside as an employee rather than as an external consultant, as I’ll be living and breathing it for myself.
In other news, I’m still doing my #challenge250 and by the end of June, I was on day 66 and hadn’t missed any of the actions I had committed to! Crossfit has been a bit hit and miss as I have not had the motivation to go, which drives me insane as I know when I do go I feel better for it, but sometimes my bed has been way too comfy to get out of!
Six months of 2021 have now passed and I am not where I expected to be! However, I’m learning day by day that I need to trust in the universe and that I am exactly where I’m meant to be!
Until next time, stay well and safe, tally ho xxxx
Lincolnshiregirl 