Читать книгу Three Things I’d Tell My Younger Self (E-Story) - Joanna Cannon, Joanna Cannon - Страница 10

Dear Sue

I’m writing this as a 56-year-old woman with four fab children, and almost three lovely grandchildren (number three is due in a few weeks’ time). I’ve had an ‘interesting’ life, many ups and downs. My mum died when I was 12. That was really awful. My dad remarried and then I couldn’t wait to leave home, I wasn’t happy. I couldn’t be myself. I left home at 16. I had five O levels (old-fashioned GCSEs) and tried to stay on to do my A levels but it was too hard – I was working evenings and weekends to pay rent. I left school after two terms of A levels and got a job working for the local council. I hated it. It was a lot of filing, putting cardboard files in alphabetical order. I used to joke that I could have done that job before I went to school when I was four, because I could read then and knew my alphabet.

When I was 17 I got a job working in London with refugees from Vietnam. I loved it! I used to look after little kids all day and hang out with the teenagers in the evening. It was such fun. I learnt basic Vietnamese. When that place closed I moved to another centre for refugees. I took people to the doctor and dentist when they arrived in the UK. I spent my 18th birthday there.

I decided I needed a career. Nursing was the only thing I could think of – both my parents were nurses. I started the course, and hated it. Somehow I stuck it out for a year, I think mainly because I didn’t know what else to do. Eventually I left. I got a job working for a record company, in the accounts department. I loved and still love maths.

At 20 I got married and then had three children in just over two years. I had my daughter Emma and then twin boys, Samuel and Oliver. They were gorgeous and still are.

After that my marriage broke down. We lived in a women’s refuge for six months, then started life again in another part of London. It was hard but we did it. We lived on benefits for a while, then I started studying. I went to college, then uni. I did a degree, then a PhD. Then I became a lecturer, a senior lecturer, then a head of department.

I’m now an Honorary Professor of Computer Science at UCL in London. I give talks all around the world. Last year I spoke to an audience of 16,000 people at a conference for women in tech in Florida. I also teach mums tech skills with an awesome team of people. I’m writing my second book and enjoying my life. I am living the dream.

I have things I never imagined I would have: four wonderful children, two grandchildren, a house, lots of friends, respect from so many people.

I changed my world by focusing on what I wanted from life. I’ve had many challenges in my life – we all have lots of challenges in life. I wish I had been told that this was normal when I was younger.

I wanted to share my life story with you, to let you know that things will be OK when you get older. I’ve had loads of challenges since I was your age, so many things have gone wrong, but I’ve managed to turn the bad times into good. I also wanted to share three pieces of advice which I wish someone had given me when I was younger:

1. Keep going through the bad times. Shit happens. Bad things happen to people all the time. Don’t let difficult times stop you from getting where you want to go.

2. Surround yourself with supporters. Life is tough enough without listening to the haters. Build a network of supportive, good friends and support them back.

3. Don’t worry so much. Keep going and things will work out. Don’t spend lots of time worrying about ‘what ifs’. A bit of worrying is good to get you focused, but don’t let it get the better of you. Life is for enjoying, being happy. Work towards being happy and you will make everyone around you happy too.

You’ve got a great life ahead of you – some difficult times, but also lots of really amazing times. Times when you will be so happy, you want to shout and scream at how wonderful life is.

OK, time to go. Close your eyes. Can you feel it? I’m giving you a big hug and will now be holding your hand every step of the way. Have a great life.

Lots of love

Sue xxx