Knock, knock!! Who’s There??

[StevieM]

BOO!!  (You all know the rest.)

Hi, everyone. I just wanted to drop in to wish you all a very happy summer.

 

Sorry I disappeared without warning. Despite regularly advising people to seek support if they are struggling with their mental health - you guessed it - I didn’t follow my own advice. I’d been struggling for several years following a change in school leadership (for reasons I won’t go into) and ended up having a breakdown last January. Only then did I seek help.

 

I’ll be honest, things got worse before they started to get better, but I managed to get myself well enough to begin a phased return last summer. I coped much better than I thought I would until, 2 weeks into the autumn term, I caught COVID and it wiped me out for months. By Christmas, I was still struggling even to walk my dog to the park just down the road without getting short of breath, and I needed to sleep several times each day.

 

I started to recover in mid-January but, by this time, the thought of going back to the school was becoming unbearable - so I didn’t.

 

But things happen for a reason.

 

After 15 years on the same grade at school, I landed a leadership role in the Civil Service. It’s not an IT role, but the start of a whole new career (in my 50s!). I’m working with a great team in a great environment. I’m trusted to manage my own flexible working hours, and can work 40% from home. I feel valued, respected and supported - something I hadn’t experienced at school for a long time 

 

So it’s onwards and upwards for me.

 

I want to thank you all for your help, support, camaraderie and friendship over the years. I wouldn’t have lasted half as long without Edugeek.

 

I want to give a special shout out to @VeryPC_Mark, who went above and beyond to support me through the dark times, both professionally and personally. You, sir, are the very definition of a gentleman.

 

So here’s to you all. Look after yourselves and each other.

 

Long live Edugeek!! 🖖

 

StevieM xxx