Old school

Last year, or perhaps it was the year before, I was invited to go and help out with some mock interviews at my old school. I must admit that it was a strange experience to say the least. Although the school is very different to when I was there back in the 1970s, the basic structure was the same. Even some of the smells remain which brought back many memories, some good and some less so. 

The interviews were held in the main hall, the place we all used to meet to kick the school day off. It wasn’t coeducational back then.

On the back of these interviews I have been invited back to repeat the exercise. Unfortunately the dates don’t work for me though Andrew is going to cover them. Instead I have been asked to come and give a short talk to the school about my ‘varied career path and the exciting world of cyber’. Oh dear!

I know it’s a few months away but already I am starting to worry about what I could possibly say. My school record was not that great and neither was my time at university. I didn’t leave the place with a clear burning ambition of what I wanted to do but instead seem to have drifted into my career. Perhaps my career chose me rather than the other way around.

Looking back, there was so much pressure to succeed, whatever that means and I am still caught up in the need to achieve. The puritan work ethic is strong in me. 

I haven’t done too badly though. My career has been interesting, varied yet mostly unplanned. In nearly every job I have done I have had reasonable success by any definition, better than some and not as good as some others.

I think this is the story that I need to tell. To all those young people worried about what their futures hold I will say not to worry, everyone is good at something. Finding out what that thing is and being true to yourself is what counts. Enjoy your life as it goes by very quickly.