My Princes Trust Journey, so far...

Speaking at the Princes Trust, London HQ

Last week I was selected to take part in training to become a Young Ambassador for the Princes Trust in London and the South East.
At the end of the training we had to tell our story, why we joined the Princes Trust and how we have developed from it.
I thought I would share what I said…

“I should not be here.

I mean, I’m not meant to be here.

I should be living in Scotland, a new design graduate starting my career.

I should be living in the countryside, with the faint sound of bagpipes never too far away, and where the local watering hole is a Whisky Distillery!

But no.

This dream I had set myself as early as I can remember, was clearly not meant to be.

Life had different ideas.

Bullying from university led to depression, low self esteem and a general of not wanting to live anymore.

This dream I had craved for so long wasnt working, and I couldn’t work out a way to still get my dream and be happy.

So I moved back home to Kent.

I can’t tell you how lost I felt and how disappointed I was in myself that I had failed university and my dream.
(Nearly three years on, and I am still battling with myself about that decision)

I started working in London part time and by chance a conversation about the Princes Trust came up.
Feeling like I didn’t have much to lose, I went online and applied.

I had wanted to run my own business prior to university, but felt like I could only do that with a degree (little did I know!)

Taking the four day Enterprise Course, a very wobbly nervous Esther took a while to warm up, but by the end of it, I felt energised and excited about what my business could be.

Building a relationship with my business mentor was a complete turning point.

He taught me not to let my past ruin the chances of creating a new dream.

I can do whatever I want if I put my mind to it.

And most importantly, I DON’T need a degree to run a business!

Setting up ’Designed by Esther’ has allowed me to have three collections in Chatham Dockyard’s gift shop, an exhibition at the Royal Engineers Museum and even having my design showcased at the Chelsea Flower Show for the Chelsea Pensioners’ stand (Exciting development about this last one is afoot!)

A lot more incredible moments have happened in the two years of being self-employed.
Not only the business achievements but the personal ones.
A huge proportion of this is down to the support I have received from the Princes Trust.

Looking back at my journey with the charity I have found my purpose.

So when I said at the start ‘I shouldn’t be here’ the Princes Trust have given me the reason to be here.

It took me to being completely broken and lost, to stumble upon this incredible charity and if I can let one person know about their work, or even get them started on a course, then I would feel I have done my part.

Find your purpose, I found mine.”

Take a look at all the incredible courses the Princes Trust do.

You don’t have to set up a business to find your purpose.