Making that decision to stay

Gemma Garrie

Working and living in my community for twenty-three years has had a huge impact on my life. Going to school and being channelled to make a 'normal' choice like going to university or finding a job was something I had difficulty with. I had been part of my community youth theatre since I was twelve and felt like they had given me so much. The offering of a GAP placement was a blessing for me and I felt that it was clear in my head as soon as it was mentioned that this was what I wanted to do. This was one of the first turning points for me. Stepping outside the 'norm' box and challenging myself to do something different. I feel now that I can understand that I wanted to work with this project that has given me so much already. I felt that I had things to give back. It was the norm of the community to move on and find what many from the area would describe as 'something better'. However for me I wasn't finished with my project or community yet. It was great to have the support of my family, even if they were uncertain of what I was going on to do. (They still don't fully understand what I do, sometimes I don't), teachers from school found my choice to do a GAP year confusing but if someone had told me I couldn't do something it made me all the more determined to give it my best shot and success.

During my GAP year I feel I worked with the motto 'you only get what you give'. (A statement we use in the youth theatre on a regular basis). However I feel that with the Rank foundation's investment in me as a person, rather than it simply being a job, helped me to understand the opportunities ahead, (this is all stuff I have realised I was feeling years after it actually happened). Working with the young people of the community and getting them to realise their own potential and work with that.

A big turning point for me was realising this passion I had inside me. When a young person performed or gained the confidence to go up on stage or simply be involved was a real inspiration to me that they were taking ownership of the things they were learning through the project. Being able to be part of that process with them and learning from their experiences as well as my own was a big turning point. It made me grow as a person. Seeing the positives in the community rather than the negative points that everyone so easily looks at. Being given an opportunity to do that also gives me the opportunity to let young people see the positives of their community.

For me, I feel that what I am doing now is so important to me and this journey is one that never ends. It continuously opens new doors. You feel you are coming to the end of something and something else comes along.

Working in an excellent support system was one of the important turning points in my Gap year. Not only the support from Rank and the feeling of being part of a family network, but the support from my line manager and the volunteers was influential. Working with young people is difficult, since you are constantly challenged with new situations and different experiences and having the opportunity to talk to people and my manager has helped me to be reflective in my work and realise how much I can learn from situations.