Having worked in local government for six years, I was getting comfortable. Too comfortable…
I’ve always been the type to challenge and push myself. I never liked to sit idle. But my current job was simple, straightforward, and I was pretty much set for life. I got my first job at my local council at the age of 18 through an apprenticeship, which opened so many doors and allowed me to progress within the organisation into a permanent position.
Now, 6 years later, I am married, a mum of two and working full-time. I had my hands full yet was still feeling unfulfilled. That’s when I came across the Social Research Degree Apprenticeship, which felt like the perfect solution! A role linked to research and policy development, with the opportunity to study and grow my skills at the same time. I was very lucky to have landed the role, and 6 months on, I am loving it!
You may be thinking “Ra’ana, how do you manage two children, a full-time job, and studying alongside all of that?”
And the answer is – I don’t! I don’t perfectly manage all of my responsibilities all the time; I try my best and get a lot of support from my loved ones. I am very lucky in that regard. With that being said, I need to be extremely prepared and manage my time effectively in order to juggle everything life throws at me!
A few people in my community have questioned whether I am able to manage my children and work. When it comes to juggling the responsibilities of parenthood and the guilt of choosing between my career and my family, I have realised one thing - everyone seems to have an opinion about what you should do with your life, but you can’t please everyone. You can only please yourself. And that’s my mantra to get me through this apprenticeship!
And here are some more reflections that continue to help me through this journey, which I hope will be useful for you…
Believing that you can do it. I was unsure of whether it was realistic to pursue this new step. I had weighed out the pros and cons of applying to the degree apprenticeship and it looked pretty balanced. The only thing that tipped the scale is that I was certain that this is what I wanted to do, and I was passionate about the work and area of study.
It’s never too late to chase your dreams, as cheesy as it sounds. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, not even yourself. Self-doubt is your biggest enemy. The moment you overcome that voice telling you that you can’t, that’s when you can do anything.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are many instances where I feel imposter syndrome. Being an older, career-changing apprentice, and having children, I questioned whether I was doing the right thing choosing an apprenticeship —
Would I be able to finish my apprenticeship? Was I neglecting my family by focusing too much on my career? It wasn’t easy. But I learned that resilience wasn’t about pushing through every obstacle without help. It was about accepting that some days would be harder than others, seeking help when I needed it, and taking small steps towards my goal each day.
Understanding your journey is unique to you. There were times when the pressure to perform at work while keeping up with assignments and taking care of my children felt like an impossible balancing act. Some nights I’d be up late completing coursework after putting the kids to bed, only to wake up early for work the next day.
It’s important to know your strengths and use them to your advantage. Know that your circumstances are different to others, so you will have to use your time, strengths and abilities in a different way in comparison to others on your course — and that’s okay!
Accepting the bumps in the road. One of the ways I stay motivated when things don’t go to plan is remembering that setbacks are part of the journey, not the end of it. I learned to be kinder to myself, to adjust my expectations when necessary, and to celebrate the small wins. Each completed assignment, each positive feedback from my colleagues, and each family milestone is proof that I can succeed in both my professional and personal life. My resilience came from constantly reminding myself why I started this journey—to build a better future for my family and myself.
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Everyone’s career journey is different, because each of our experiences are unique and that’s what makes us special. But there’s so much that can be learned from others’ experiences, and I hope that my story will motivate someone in a similar position to have the courage to take that leap.
Ra’ana Riyaz
Social Research Degree Apprentice at Verian Group
You can find out more and connect with Ra'ana on LinkedIn and TikTok