Standing on the Stage: The Power of Showing Up for Students

There is something special about standing behind a podium at a school event. It is not the microphone or the stage lights or even the formal setting. It is the faces in the audience. Students looking up, curious, hopeful, unsure, excited, all at different stages of discovering who they are and who they might become.

This photo captures a moment where I was reminded why showing up matters. Not just as a speaker, but as a role model. As adults, we often underestimate the impact of simply sharing our stories, our experiences and our real, imperfect learning journeys. But to students, hearing from someone who has carved an unexpected path can be the spark that helps them imagine possibilities for themselves.

Nothing beats talking to students about possibilities and the power of believing in yourself.

The Importance of Being Real

When I speak to students, I don’t try to be perfect. I talk about the twists and turns, the choices that didn’t make sense at the time, and the opportunities I only recognised years later. I talk about juggling work and study, starting again, changing direction and continuing to grow. I want them to understand that a career is not a straight line. It is a series of steps, some planned, some accidental, that eventually form a path unique to each person.

Students need to hear that success is not reserved for those who never make mistakes. It is for those who keep moving, keep learning and keep believing they have something to offer.

Encouraging Confidence and Curiosity

One of the messages I always share is that confidence doesn’t come first. It comes later, once you take a chance on something unfamiliar. Whether that’s a new subject, a traineeship, a job, or returning to study as an adult, progress begins the moment you choose curiosity over fear.

If students can look at me and think, “If she could do it, maybe I can too,” then standing on that stage is worth every minute.

Why Role Models Matter

Being a role model is not about having all the answers. It’s about letting young people see what is possible. It’s about showing them that their background, their challenges, or their uncertainty do not define their future. It’s about giving them permission to dream and the encouragement to pursue those dreams, one step at a time.

A Message to the Next Generation

Be bold enough to try, brave enough to fail, and persistent enough to keep going. You never know where one opportunity, one subject or one conversation may lead you.

And if my voice at a podium helps even one student take that next step, then that moment on stage becomes something truly meaningful.

And if my voice at a podium helps even one student take that next step, then that moment on stage becomes something truly meaningful.