From Unsure Student To Empowering Leader: My Journey In Education & My Mission Beyond
From Unsure Student To Empowering Leader: My Journey In Education & My Mission Beyond.
Written By: Ross Thompson
From Unsure Student To Empowering Leader: My Journey In Education & My Mission Beyond.
When I was a school student, I had minimal confidence and no clear idea of what career I wanted to pursue. School felt more like an unwanted commitment than a place of progression. I was placed in top sets for every subject, but I often found myself questioning the value of what we were learning.
Why this subject?
Why now?
What’s the point?
How would this knowledge help me in the future?
These were the questions that constantly ran through my mind. School, for the most part, felt boring and uninspiring. Teachers stuck to textbooks and subjects were rarely brought to life, lacking any real creativity. There was little connection to the real world. It felt like an automated system that I simply had to conform to, rather than a place to explore and develop my potential.
I performed well academically, leaving school with great results, but I didn’t feel fulfilled. The turning point came when I started college. For the first time, I was studying subjects I was genuinely interested in and passionate about, one of which was Psychology. I was surrounded by people who, like me, had chosen to be there and shared my interests.
Outside of education, I was also working part-time, enjoying the independence of earning money, learning to drive and connecting with people on a deeper level. Conversations at work shifted to things that mattered – progression, aspirations and personal growth.
The Power Of Human Connection
At the age of 19, I worked in a prison for a short period, interacting with young men who had faced significant struggles and regrettable decisions. Many of them still held aspirations for their future, even while navigating the harsh reality of imprisonment.
Despite feeling too young and inexperienced to help them in any meaningful way, my heart was in the right place. I quickly recognised that these individuals generally had one of two mindsets – what I would later learn to call the growth mindset and the fixed mindset.
This understanding became a crucial realisation for me. I recognised that mindset wasn’t just important – it was often the biggest barrier preventing people from moving forward.
It became clear that while I had some natural strengths, like being a good listener, there were skills I needed to upgrade. Counselling and mentoring were two areas I felt drawn to, and I knew they would help me better support others.
Understanding mindset gave me a new perspective through which to view both myself and those around me, becoming an essential part of my own journey of growth and learning.
A New Direction
When I began working as a teaching assistant in a mainstream high school, within just a few months I unlocked something within me: the ability to bring out the best in others.
This revelation steered me towards a career in safeguarding and child protection. Alongside this, I studied counselling and mentoring, equipping myself with the tools to help people realise their own worth, set meaningful goals and develop a resilient mindset.
Over the past 15 years, I have had the privilege of working with thousands of young people, some of whom are now adults, and I take pride in knowing that for many of them, I am someone they will remember positively when they look back at their school years.
I regularly stand in front of audiences of over 100 people, delivering training on safeguarding, child protection, mentoring and leadership. I also deliver targeted sessions for groups of young people, designed to inspire and educate them. I advocate for vulnerable and at-risk young people at child protection conferences, ensuring their voices are heard and they are represented fairly. My efforts focus on securing the support they are entitled to, helping to implement the right measures for their well-being.
Empowering The Next Generation
Today, I proudly serve as the Strategic Safeguarding Manager at a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), where I protect and uplift young people who often face significant challenges.
Alongside this highly rewarding role, I run my own coaching business, delivering impactful sessions focused on upskilling, empowering and enhancing the lives of young people, adults, parents and professionals across the UK and, more recently, abroad.
Through my years of experience, I understand the challenges that come with low self-esteem and self-doubt. But I’ve also learned that with the right mindset, practical tools and solid resilience, these challenges can be overcome.
We often hold ourselves back, not realising that with belief, persistence and guidance, we can achieve far more than we ever imagined.
And now, I want to help you unlock your potential. My Elevate Your Self-Esteem sessions are designed to guide you through overcoming your barriers and embracing the confidence and self-worth you deserve.
Whether you're a young adult seeking direction, a professional wanting to boost your confidence or someone simply looking to feel more empowered in their life, these sessions will give you the strategies and support needed to create lasting change.
If you're looking for a deep dive into personal development and goal setting, I also offer Empowerment, an intense 3-hour session designed for those who are serious about pursuing their ambitions independently. The session focuses on transforming your mindset, helping you gain clarity on your goals and building an actionable plan to reach them.
For those looking to make changes but are unsure where to begin, Your Starting Point is a 45-minute session that offers a taste of the coaching experience. Priced at just the cost of two drinks in a bar (unless you’re based in London!), it’s the perfect opportunity to reflect on your strengths, identify areas for development and start your journey towards the future you want. This session gives you the platform you need to take that first step towards enhancing your life and achieving your ambitions.
No matter where you are in your journey, I am here to help you realise that you are capable of more than you think. Together, we can elevate your self-esteem, build resilience and empower you to become the best version of yourself.
Ross Thompson
Empowering and upskilling young people, adults, professionals and parents through specialist coaching and intervention.
Contact Me Today
Get in touch to get on track and find out more about what specialist coaching from a Resilience & Mindset Life Coach can do for you.