Wednesday 18 November 2009

Then and Now

Today's task is to look back a year and see what we were doing and how things have or haven't changed. If I look back to a year plus a day I come across this . My daughter's graduation from Sheffield Hallam University. She had just got a 2:1 in Business and Marketing.

So pick up your remote controller and press fast forward to today. If someone had told us that 12 months after that day she would be ridiculously happy working 10 minutes from home in a hair salon I don't think either of us would have believed it.
For 12 months ago she had just landed a fab job in Covent Garden, London working for a prestigious media communications company working on global accounts. What the 2008 'us' didn't know that over the next 10 months she would narrowly escape redundancy, tire herself out in commuting, become bored with the job, and basically become so unhappy it impacted on many parts of her life and in all honesty, made her ill.
She's now retraining, back at college one day a week and working in the salon for 4 days. With a great bunch of friendly people, using her artistic skills and learning new things. A huge decision to make, and I am sure a fair few people thought 'what a waste of a degree' but I can tell you that what really matters is that I have my happy daughter back. She is well and content and keen to start the day again.
And of course, so many free haircuts - she looks quite different!

12 comments:

Sian said...

She certainly looks very pretty and happy in this photo! Thank you so much for your lovely comment on my blog..I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's photo very much.

Rachel said...

You must be so proud of her, it takes a lot of courage to change careers like that, especially when lots of retraining is needed.

Liberty :) said...

Good on her! A brave decision, I'm all about the happy. I long to earn pennies in a design type job. I'd love to open a craft shop and play all day in the papers, it isn't currently viable for me to do this as too many dependent things but glad your daughter is happy :)

Nadine said...

I admire her for making a switch.
not a lot of people would risk that
change.

and I adore her hairstyle (:

Anthea Goodman said...

Well done! Its amazing what a difference a year can make. One can study a degree with all the best intentions, but if you're not happy in that field then there's no point killing yourself trying to stay in that field. Its best just to find the place that you're happy and go with the flow!

Joos said...

Hi Debs! Popping by to say 'hi' as you are the person below me in the 'round the world' blog.

I totally agree with you a happy daughter is what's important. Who cares if she's 'wasted' her degree what matters is that she is happy and doing what she wants in life!

Rosemary said...

What a wonderful story that is, so much better to be happy IMHO.

She certainly looks happy in the photo.

Catherine said...

Just stopped bye for a first visit from Shimelle's class. Lovely post.
Catherine

MarleneMAZ said...

Luckily she made the change still early in her life so she can move forward. It must have been a hard decision but you are right she looks happy and very cute !

Rachel Brett said...

She looks very happy and that is all that matters. Lovely Post Deb.

Denise said...

She looks even more gorgeous and that smile says it all - Happy Mum too xxx

humel said...

The most important thing is that she's happy and fulfilled, and it sure sounds like she is :-)