Discovered: Zoe Cree
"I got kicked out of my mum’s house when I was
17. We just argued all the time. I moved into a local hostel. And
that was a bad idea. There were no wardens or anything."
I was quite naughty at school. I didn’t really
go very much. I got into lots of arguments with the teachers. I got
loads of letters from school warning that I might get suspended.
But I didn’t tell my parents. Someone found the letters and gave
them to my mum.
“I ended up getting kicked out at 15, but they let me do my
GCSEs. I did ok. I got two Cs. I also did an NVQ in
hairdressing.
“Outside of school I just hung round the streets. I didn’t care
that I was getting kicked out of school. Everyone else I knew was
being thrown out as well anyway.
“I went to college to do a year course in travel and tourism. I
enjoyed that and passed. I wanted to be an air hostess, but was too
young.
“And then I got kicked out of my mum’s house when I was 17. We
just argued all the time. I moved into a local hostel. And that was
a bad idea. There were no wardens or anything, so I just partied
every day.
It was around that time I joined The Prince’s Trust Get into
Hospital Services course. Someone from The Trust came into the
hostel and told us about the course. At first I didn’t want to do
it, but I thought it was better than doing nothing.
“The people at The Trust made me think I could have a good job.
And do something with my life. They helped my self esteem; made me
feel good about myself. They made me do loads of presentations to
get me used to speaking to people. I was quite shy before the
course, even though I didn’t look like it.
“The course was four weeks. I went on a work placement at the
local hospital ward. When I was doing the placement I filled in a
job application. The Prince’s Trust helped me with the job form. My
personal statement. And helped me prepare for my interview. They
gave me a list of interview questions and we had to prepare the
answers.
I got the job. I’m now a clinical support
worker. I talk to patients. Observations. Blood pressure. That sort
of thing. As well as making tea for people. I do that too. My mum’s
proud of me. She bought me loads of presents when I got my job. I
get on with my mum a lot better now.
“I like helping patients, talking to them and stuff. I really
enjoy it. Some of the people have really interesting lives. It
makes me feel important. And happy.
”The Trust has kept in touch with me after I finished my course.
They told me that they were really proud of me.
”I am doing one day at college a week. And then I go to
university next year. I want to be a specialist nurse for something
like diabetes. You can help them a lot. See the difference in
them.
You go home and feel like you’ve helped people.
I feel like my life has got meaning now.