Jadzia Austin is a Business Administrator apprentice at Oasis Academy Skinner Street in Gillingham. She has recently completed her apprenticeship with a distinction and reflects back on how much she has gain from her role including boosting her confidence and enjoying working as part of a team at Oasis.
In her own words Jadzia said;
I chose this apprenticeship programme because it was a way into the job market; an apprenticeship was the best way to get my foot upon the job ladder. I realised that I enjoyed doing administrative work and talking to people. I also love looking at data and doing reports! It may seem boring to some, but I love it as a job—it seemed like the perfect marriage of things I enjoy, and something I could do full time!
The main benefits of an apprenticeship programme are that you feel you are allowed to not know everything. There’s no expectation of you having mastered all the tools you are going to use, at least I found that. You are given the time to learn these new and, often, intimidating systems and navigate your way through them. Think of an apprenticeship programme like the Seven Seas and you are on the boat; you may not be able to traverse it in exactly the path you want, and it will be a tumultuous journey but, in the end, you will always come out having survived the storm.
The best thing about my role within Oasis Academy Skinner Street is the people that I work with. When people say, “it’s not where you work, it’s who you work with,” it’s very much so true. I work with two amazing members of staff in the main office who have helped me grow into the individual that I am today and, if it weren’t for them, I simply would not be who I am (I owe you, Jen and Julia)! Additionally, working for Oasis Community Learning has been a lifechanging experience. I encountered a lovely gentleman who gave me an opportunity of a lifetime and every single member of staff that I see daily is so kind and delightful, it really makes each day special. No two days are the same, so I couldn’t recommend it more.
I have been supported on my apprenticeship by all the team around me, including my line manager and my tutor. My LMP tutor provided me with the knowledge that I needed for my apprenticeship, and I feel I owe her a lot for how far I have come, as well as the confidence to do the jobs and tasks that I do. The aspects of an apprenticeship are very flexible, and they are as unpredictable as always, and the important thing is that I had a supportive team around me.
Before I started at OASS, confidence was something I lacked. I had none of it. I was content to be in my four walls for the rest of my days if that meant I didn’t have to interact with people, and that would have been enough but I wanted more out of my life and, because of this, I have been offered opportunities that I would never have feasibly been offered because of this apprenticeship; I really owe it all to Oasis.
My next step in my career after this programme is to become a receptionist and publish my first book! It’s not all that grand, but it’s a humble dream I have nonetheless, and I thoroughly enjoy being front office. Maybe, one day, you’ll be reading one of my books!
We wish you all the best Jadzia.
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