In March 2004, I became a governor on the then Temporary Governing Body of the planned new secondary school for Hampton, Peterborough. That school was to be called Hampton College. My eldest son started as one of the first 90 students in Year 7 when it opened for it's first day in September 2005. There are still 7 members of teaching staff and 2 members of support staff who started then that are still part of the now Academy Trust. I, as a governor, was involved in the direct interview of 4 of those teachers.
I started working at Hampton College in April 2006; the first job that I had held since I had become a mother in 1994. I have learnt so much about myself in those 12 years. I hope that I have left an imprint of myself on not only colleagues but most definitely on some young people too. There are several that have left an impact on me!
I was a caterpillar that has turned into a butterfly; shed my cocoon and learnt how to fly. Some who know me now will have seen that growth. Others will struggle to imagine who I was as they have only seen who I am now. Some may even be able to tell stories of 'tweed' 😏 and can tell you how different I am now!
I now have a confidence and belief that means that I am ready to face a new challenge.
It can never be said that when I do things that I do them by half. I am an all or nothing kinda girl, which also makes me a marmite person, something that I am totally aware of 😉; you either like me or hate me, there is no middle ground!
Some may be surprised to know that I don't really do fuss and would rather slink out the door with no-one seeing me. That has not been allowed to happen. Last Friday I had the delight of over 40 friends and colleagues being at a surprise leaving meal for me; some of those that I have worked with closely over that time but who have moved on too, also being there. I did shed a few tears every now and again that night. I hope they all know how much it meant to me 💖
Before I had children I worked in the world of retail. My first Saturday job was at Habitat, which I loved. I was given responsibilities, as a 17 year old, that I now can look back on and see that the store manager saw something in me that I didn't even realise! Having failed my A levels miserably and losing out on my place at university to study Speech Therapy I had to look at what else I could do. My first full-time job was working for a small family business, in Oundle, who sold curtains and carpets. I drove a Bedford Rascal van 🚚; basically a tin on wheels! Last week, a very good friend repeated words that I have said many a time, 'I used to drive a van, don't you know'! My dad taught me the life skill of using your wing mirrors to park a vehicle in that Bedford Rascal as it had no rear windows to help you! He drove buses whilst at university to feed us!
I then moved onto larger objects, selling furniture in Westgate House. A job I loved, I could sell! Must be that engaging personality!? When I left, heavily pregnant with my first child, I was the assistant manager on the department; funny that he is now in retail and also loves it. We are people people!
Roll on nearly 25 years; I have grown to understand and accept who I am. 11 years ago a friend wanted me to run the office of the business that she and her husband had bought. That 'Tessa' did not have the confidence to do that, but she saw those qualities. Fast forward to February 2018 and I am leaving an institution that has been a part of my life. My growth, changing this caterpillar into a butterfly who is strong and able to spread her wings. I am humble and do sometimes still have doubts, so do need reminding that I have strength. I have found that in a wonderful man.
I am leaving the place that has 'made' me, leaving behind some friends, who I hope will continue to be friends. Challenges face me and us, but that is exciting! I am going to help grow a fledgling business and give it some of me. My administration skills, my organisation skills, my people skills, oh and my selling skills, returning to the world of retail! I might need to learn a few things about cars, vans and campers but life is all about learning!
Living and working together will be fun. We may have some exciting challenges through our journey but I have spent the last 12 years working with teenagers; a 44 year old man and his 70 year old parents can't be too much harder can they?!
My favourite poem of all time is by Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken;
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
This road, that I have taken, may not be an easy one and is likely to have many challenges in its way but I am very excited by the life that I am choosing. Life is a journey . . .
