“The experience of university will change you. You
will change as a result of your learning experiences, both within and beyond
the learning required for assessment tasks and exams. Your ways of thinking
will change—you will see the world through a ‘different lens’, you will
experience personal growth and development and will gain confidence at the end" (Cantwell and
Scevak, 2007, pg. 2).
This quote links well to my personal experiences. It outlines the fundamental concepts of change and development that I have experienced at University. Towards the beginning of my studies, and when I first addressed this portfolio, my focus lay on becoming a sports
coach/teacher. However, as a result of contextual influences, which researchers have found to influence human action (Vygotsky, 1978; Bronfenbrenner, 1979) I have changed my aspirations. Volunteer experience and challenges I have faced have inspired me to desire work within the cycling industry, which involves many different job opportunities; marketing, sales, guiding and organising events.
Journeys in life are inevitable and are not neat, controllable or predictable (Lotze, 2004). However, we have some influence on the direction and I will strive to lead my life and career down my chosen path. My interest in the cycling industry primarily began with volunteer work helping out at mountain bike demo days around the Lake
District, for various bike manufacturers and influential companies including Silverfish UK, Yeti Cycles and Mondraker UK. Personal encounters have been found to positively increase social interpersonal skills (Johnson, 2009) and I bore witness to my own personal development. This experience allowed me to make contacts that I can refer to if looking for more work. Through interacting with other cyclists, I became consolidated on the idea of work in this setting and I know that it will result in high levels of job satisfaction.
When choosing to follow the
Outdoor Education pathway I was aware of the (often, not always) lower salary. This didn't influence my decision as I contend that money is not the key to happiness and believe it can blind us from our true passions in
life. Previous research shows happiness can be felt by achieving our aspirations (McBride, 2010), as opposed to money (Becchetti, 2010). Thus, I would rather a lower paid job with higher levels of happiness.
With this career in mind, adjustments to some
of my aims and goals have to be made. According to Cantwell and Scevak (2007), all changes
involve adjustment. Short and long term goals are important (Keep Inspiring Me, 2016). They propel
me forward; break up the overall goal into achievable sections; help me to
believe in myself; help me evaluate progress or barriers and identify what I
truly want in life. Some of my short term goals
include:
- Keeping up my name in the mountain biking racing scene, so that I keep building up my contacts
- Volunteer at more demo bike events
- Get a job part-time job in a bike shop
- Continue my coaching/instructing with the cycling youth club at home
- Finish my application for the British Cycling Coach development programme for women
To achieve these would be a great step in achieving my long term goal:
- To work within the cycling industry in marketing, sales, guiding or organising events.
Starting on this new idea, meant I had to reflect on what I was
currently doing and how I need to adapt to achieve my goals. This started with
me quitting my current job at a cocktail bar. This job was good for money and
experience, however, it is not going to get me where I want to be. I am now
applying for bike shop jobs as a sales representative, and if this fails will
seek further volunteering experience instead. This was a really big decision
and sacrifice, as I did enjoy my job. Sometimes sacrifices and hard decisions
need to be made to reach your end goal. We all have our own path to follow and
challenges to overcome (Willems, 2007).
In honesty, this article has been difficult for me to write. I
have not told many people of my ambitions as I am too scared of being shot
down or laughed at. So many people like to exert control over decisions I make, under the beliefs that they know what is best for me and what I am capable of. I put up a personal barrier, and my dreams became a
secret mission. Somehow a reflection in this way feels different, and I
feel secure and safe to write the truth, which is an interesting outcome. Subsequently, I have decided to start writing an anonymous blog or diary. Researchers show such writings to give therapeutic benefits (British
Council, 2016).
The academic journeys and tasks I have been through since University
have given me innovative ideas in the ways I live and act and I feel have developed me as an Outdoor practitioner. At University
you receive a lot more independence in your studies and the assignments
are often broad. At first I disliked this, as I like having clear
questions and answers. Nonetheless, I have learnt that this opens up the
opportunity to develop my own philosophies and opinions.
Recently, a group of us went on an expedition journey that was
remotely supervised by University. We were dropped off in Grasmere (grid ref. NY335074)
and planned to walk to Ennerdale Water (grid ref. NY 027145).
I will reflect on this trip using Everley's (2011) Four D's of Dimensional processing
(description, detailing, deconstructing and determining) in the following.
The expedition allowed us to enter a new environment for learning. I have never been to the Ennerdale area, so it opened up new opportunities to explore. Learning about the re-wilding scheme and the different stakeholders developed my understanding of the different reasons and views for protecting an area or creating a sustainable environment for endangered species, such as the Arctic charr (Themes, 2016).
The expedition allowed us to enter a new environment for learning. I have never been to the Ennerdale area, so it opened up new opportunities to explore. Learning about the re-wilding scheme and the different stakeholders developed my understanding of the different reasons and views for protecting an area or creating a sustainable environment for endangered species, such as the Arctic charr (Themes, 2016).
Travelling there offered team work opportunities and we were required to conquer obstacles together, e.g. getting lost. We had one
participant turn back due to illness and our second day was short due to a leg injury. On this day we had planned to walk less
anyway for slow-travel, to give us time to reflect and take in the
surroundings, as you can't come to know a place by rushing in and
out (Meyers, 1989). Yet, we ended up on a completely different
adventure when one of the group pulled a muscle and could not continue. We made a group decision to catch the bus to Keswick and then got driven from there to
Ennerdale. I felt very disappointed with this as I was looking forward to a day
of mountain walking. Howbeit, these things happen and require you to
make the best of a situation. Hence, we had a deluxe hot chocolate in a local
café in Keswick and explored Ennerdale upon arrival.
When going on journeys as a group, I have learnt that you have to be
flexible and open minded as events can't be foreseen. Instead of
dwelling on the missed out walking, I am looking to the future and planning another journey that will allow me to explore the valley more and build on my experience.
In conclusion, the physical, professional and academic journeys I
have been on this year have been life changing. All this has happened in such a
small time, although journeys are slow and progressive. I have made so much development through my time at university in this short time and the promise of further enlightenment, journeys and adventures fill me with enthusiasm
for the upcoming years of study.
References
Brecchetti, L. (2010) The Money–Happiness relationship in transition countries: Evidence from Albania. Transition Studies Review [online]. 17 (1), pp. 39–62. [Accessed 20 April 2016].
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
British Council. (2016) 10 Reasons Why You Should Start Keeping a Diary. Available at: https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/magazine/life-around-world/10-reasons-why-you-should-start-keeping-diary (Accessed: 15 April 2016).
Cantwell, R. and Scevak, J. (2007) Stepping Stones: A Guide for Mature Students at University. Camberwell: Australian Council for Education Research.
Everley, S. (2011) Evaluation of the Adventure Experience: The inside view, how do we make sense of evidence? In: Adventure Education: An Introduction. Routledge: Abingdon.
Johnson, A. (2009) ‘Personal Journeys, Future Challenges’, The Presidency, 12(2), pp. 26–31.
Keep Inspiring Me. (2016) The importance of Goal Setting. Available at: http://www.keepinspiring.me/why-you-need-to-set-goals/ (Accessed: 15 April 2016).
Lotze, E. (2004) Work Culture Transformation: Straw to Gold - The Modern Hero’s Journey. England: De Gruyter.
McBride, M. (2010) Money, happiness, and aspirations: An experimental study. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization [online]. 74 (3), pp. 262–276. [Accessed 20 April 2016].
Meyers,
S.J. (1989) Lime Creek Odyssey. Golden, CO: Fulcrum.
Themes, K. (2016) Wild Ennerdale Fish. Available at: http://www.wildennerdale.co.uk/wildlife/fish/ (Accessed: 15 April 2016).
Vygotsky, L. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Willems, J. (2007) Slow and steady wins the race: A personal journey as an adult learner. Monash University: Australian Council for Education Research.
