career Archives - INSPIRING MAX

Write a post about anything you’d like — in the style of your favorite blogger. (Be sure to link to them!)

Back in 1980 my 6th form English teachers wrote on my high school reference, Max “has a unique personality.” I was so proud. The statement showed he understood me and wasn’t trying to make me fit a mould. It was this reference that 6 weeks later, as an 18-year-old helped get me a traineeship in psychiatric nursing. 35 years later I still work in mental health. It suits my unique personality. All those years ago, if I had copied others because that was the normal thing to do—I wouldn’t have found my calling.

Finding your own personality, believing and following your own style is important in developing your own confidence. It is this confidence that allows you to achieve your goals. Imitation is observing and replicating another’s behaviour—something I am not interested in doing on any level—even for fun. There are many other bloggers who think similar to myself and whose blogs I enjoy however, having a different style of writing changes the feel of the post and in my opinion isn’t being true to either style.

I am all for learning and adding new forms of writing to my blog—my latest addition being poetry. But in my own unique voice. Being true to myself is a personal value of mine which leaves no reason to copy others. Believe in yourself and develop your voice. Copying others will keep you not being true to you.

Be unique. The world need more uniqueness—not more imitators.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/imitationflattery/

From your musical tastes to your political views, were you ever way ahead of the rest of us, adopting the new and the emerging before everyone else?

My sixth form English teacher wrote on my reference to leave high school—I have a unique personality. I was so proud. He did understand me. And with that reference, I got my first job—as a trainee psychiatric nurse. It was perfect for me. I had two requirements for my job. I wanted to work with people and I didn’t want to be a general nurse. Both requirements ticked. It was 1981 and most of Australia, possibly the world were not thinking about mental health issues or work, even their own. I was then and I am today, still proud to be helping people find their way through difficult times.

Today, the stigma of having mental health problems or working in mental health is broken. People realise through advertising that mental health problems can and do happen to anyone and everyone.There is more information around on how, when and where to get help. Bosses are encouraged to talk to their staff about any concerns they have and encourage people to seek help.

Universities teach more mental health content and encourage people through mental health placements to take up this worthwhile career option. Today, working in mental health, you can specialise in many areas, developing many transferable skills. For most of the last two decades, I have chosen to specialise in eating disorders, however my acute psychiatry skills are never far away.

If I had my time again, would I change anything? No. My experiences and career choices have made me who I am today. If you or someone you know is considering a career in any area of mental health, I would encourage them to give it a try. It is very rewarding helping people find themselves again after difficult times.