How I got here, What I'm doing now & Where I'm going!

Becoming a drama therapist never crossed my mind.  I was on the road to becoming a lawyer.  However my health got the best of me and the universe had another idea for my career path.  This involved using my God given gifts and talents which all relate to The Arts.

Throughout secondary school I was very ambitious, and aimed to be at the top of my class at the end of every year, attacking each project vigorously and whole heartedly.  Despite my impairment I worked profusely to achieve grades A-C in my GCSE exams and I took extra-curricular activities very seriously:  I was competitive and an over achiever.

Being an over achiever meant that I was unable to accept the fact that my health would interfere with my A-level exams:  The more I pushed myself, the worse my health got.  This resulted in me having a break-down and being diagnosed with clinical depression.

 I received counseling once a week which contributed greatly towards my healing process. However it was poetry, drama and music that had a pivotal role in my personal development and gearing me towards the right career path. The Arts were used as a therapeutic tool when I needed to rise over the difficult milestone of developing Glaucoma which resulted in partial visual impairment. Expressing my feelings through poetry served as a positive outlet:  I was able to vent in a harmless way and in turn create a reflective journal which I was able to look back on. This gave me comfort and regenerated my self-esteem.

I was advised by doctors to take a gap year before starting my degree. During this time I finished incomplete courses at college on a flexible timetable suitable for my health. Studying musical theatre (BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma) is a way of improving my practical skills in the discipline.  While on this course I have saturating myself in all possible careers The Arts have to offer,   this is how I discovered the profession of Drama Therapist.  I recognize clearly how the combination of counseling and being creative healed me greatly through such a difficult time, and I have subsequently developed an interest in a career path that would enable me to help others using the same methods. 

Having a charitable nature, I always had in my life plan to launch a charity that would give disabled young people a chance to excel through The Arts.  I feel that my journey is a testimony that should be shared with those who feel as though no one understands their trials.  Being able to understand that feeling of restriction when wanting to achieve your dream would help me to empathize but not patronize them.  

Discussing how my chosen pathway has contributed to my own personal development has been challenging for me as it has forced me to present private thoughts that I never imagined would leave the pages of my journal. However, this exercise has served to further develop my own belief in catharsis through open discussion of fears and insecurities. Studying this course will serve as a foundation for my long-term goal of becoming a well-rounded and qualified practitioner.