Personal Statement
I have been destined to become an entrepreneur, work in business or own my own business since I was five. I was lucky to grow up watching and helping in my parents catering business and by the age of five, I was creating my own business empire! I would bake cakes at home firstly selling to my family. I thought I had invented the coolest new carbonated drink when I was 8 by mixing Coke, Fanta and Sprite I branded it (CFS). I would take my old toys and create my own toyshop selling to friends however I did get into trouble when I sold my brothers things. I would take promise notes from my parents when they had no cash, then use these notes to bargain for things when we were out shopping. It was an amazing time as profits were always good as cake ingredients, soda, toys, and clothes all cost me nothing, and I had no real overheads just profits! My dad threatened me with rent and business rates at one time but he was only trying to teach me another small business lesson.
I grew up working evenings and weekends in my parents business learning basic accounts, cash flows and purchasing but best of all I was able to serve people and begin to understand how important customer relationships were, I watched and learned, my parents were just great dealing with people staff customers and suppliers.
Life is never simple and when I was born my older brother Jack was diagnosed with a truly crippling muscle wasting disease Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. I don’t remember Jack walking, only getting around in his powered wheelchair, but we were soul mates growing up and did everything together. How my parents coped with Jack, his disability, endless hospital visits and running a small businessI'll never truly understand. It's really difficult being different as what is so normal for us is so different from everybody else. Jack's difficulties have formed a great family bond for us, as we all strive to support him daily and to remain positive with the shorter time we have together. Jack is the person who inspires me to follow my dreams and to pursue my goals in life.
I was diagnosed as Dyslexic in Primary school, and again I was not normal, struggling to read and comprehend basic math’s, which then affected, all of my other subjects. I discovered a love for Dance and Sports, this gave me confidence as I excelled in these areas. At senior school, I struggled educationally but excelled in sports gaining confidence socially and academically through sporting and dance excellence. I discovered lessons I loved such as Catering, Art, Dance, which gave me confidence and allowed me to concentrate on the important subjects of my Math’s, English and Science lessons. I found different innovative ways to learn and study.
I volunteered at my Brother's wheelchair football club on the coaching team. I raised over £1500 for a muscular dystrophy charity though school events. I’ve run in charity races raising even more money to give back to charities that helped and supported my brother. I also volunteered at our local hospice when I could. I became a leader at school as house captain as well as a sports ambassador. I became coach of the school's basketball teams coaching in lunchtimes and after school every day for three years. I became a leader and organizer of the Schools Recycling Committee we developed policies targeting school recycling and reducing the school's carbon footprint. Understanding what being different was through my brother and even my Dyslexia I joined the school's anti-bullying, committee and we implemented policies supporting disability and diversity. Within my Dance classes, I also became a mentor supporting younger dancers through their pathway. I continued to excel at sports representing my school and captaining teams in netball, football, basketball, rugby, rounder’sand athletics. I was selected to attend the Youth Sports Trust National Talent Camp, selected and representing basketball England as a coach mentor. I represented my county at basketball and cricket; I was selected to represent the South East Of England U15 basketball team and the East of England U17 basketball teams. My club basketball team became U17 basketball England national champions and U19 champions in which the final I was named Most Valuable Player. While at school I attained the bronze Duke of Edinburgh award I was voted Sports Women of the year 2014/2015 and 2016/ 2017. I am a qualified Basketball England level 1 referee, table official and coach.
With my aspirations to become an airline pilot one day, I have a passion for the transport business industry. I recently did a week of work experience with L3 airline academy where they train commercial airline pilots. This was an opportunity I was very fortunate to obtain which gave me the opportunity to network and find out as much information as I could to discover what it takes to be a transporter in the travel industry. I got to see all sides of the business from engineering to interview processes. One day I was flying Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 simulators and another day I got to witness the brutal selection process. This experience allowed me to see the inside of there business from all angles.
My brother Jack along with my family encouraged me to leave home at sixteen and
join the most successful Basketball Academy in England. I train at least twice a day whilst studying full time, so I can gain my academic qualifications to attend University. Being different and overcoming adversity has become the norm for me, I strive to compete individually and as part of a team in all environments. I confront adversity head on and I am determined to be successful in life as a Woman in sports, the class room and my career.
