20ish years ago when I started my degree, I was volunteering in a local primary school alongside working in the playgroup.

I worked in a class where there were 4 children with ADHD and the teaching method was to shout at them to tow-the-line. It was traumatic for everyone involved. The noise each day would increase in volume as the anxiety levels of everyone involved reached breaking points.

One day the head mistress came out to see me whilst I was on playground duty and told me they had decided to employ a TA to work in that class. They would need to interview for the post, but they would like me to apply. The implication was that the interviews were a formality.

I can’t remember much about the interview itself but after it, I walked home awaiting the phone call to let me know the outcome. The phone rang shortly after I arrived: thank you for attending the interview, would I be available to return to school to have a conversation.

Yes, of course!

I put my shoes back on and eagerly returned to school.

In the meeting that followed they (The head teacher and the deputy head) told me that I lacked confidence. I didn’t have what it would take to work in a school. I lacked ability, I didn’t have what it takes to do a degree. If I wanted to continue to go in as a volunteer I could, but under the circumstances they couldn’t employ me.

It was like a smack around the face. I was completely unprepared after the conversation we had in the playground.

About a month later they did take me on the that role. I also finished my degree.

Since then, I have had a variety of jobs in educational settings and built Clara James Tutoring from scratch so that it is now ready to franchise.

My point is if you have a dream, a goal, don’t let others put you off. She was right, I did have very little confidence, and that conversation eliminated any that I did have, but I also had pride and determination and her saying that made me want to (figuratively speaking) put two fingers up (sorry to be rude) and show her that I’m stronger than she gave me credit for.

It’s now those kids with ADHD, ASD, dyslexia, etc that I enjoy working with the most. There’s no shouting. There’s no need for it. There’s respect, there’s calm, there's growth. Growth for us both I think.

I hope you have a good week and if you have a dream, push on. You can do it. If you want to start a tutoring business and you want to have a chat, let me know and we can schedule a time.