If It Makes Them Happy - a mother's perspective

Sandra accompanied her daughter Lauren to a careers expo during Lauren's fifth form year. Sandra says she didn't push her daughter, but felt it was important that whatever became Lauren's job - perhaps for life - should be something she could combine with her talents. She thought Lauren would enjoy her career more if it combined with her hobby, she says.  

 

 

"I look at the kids and I want them to be happy. When they know what they want to do and they have their heart set on it, I wouldn't stop them," Sandra says. 

 

Did you influence Lauren's career choice at all? 

 

"It was a combined thing. Lauren did well at school. The only influence I had is that I wished that somebody had taken an interest and pushed me. At school she was very artistic, very creative. She's never wanted to be in an offce.

 

"Signwriting was one of the things on her list that she thought of to get into, so we went and talked with Havelock North Signwriter, Willy Ransfield, at the expo."

 

Why did you go along to the expo?

 

"I suppose it comes from my own childhood. I never really had any backing, nobody ever really directed me and said 'you could do this, you have these talents'. At the expo all the kids were more interested in getting free stuff and looking cool in front of their mates, but I was standing by taking notes and saying, 'This is what we're here for'."

 

"I enjoyed the expo because I never had that opportunity. I don't want to control what she does, but I wanted to back her up." 

 

What do you think about Lauren's pay and prospects as a Modern Apprentice? 

 

"It's a long course - five years, and the pay's not great. But we encourage her. She's paid off her own car. She's still able to get little things for herself, nice clothes. Because it's something she enjoys, she doesn't moan too much about that.

 

"An apprenticeship is great because we didn't want her to come out with a huge debt from Uni."