A friend recently said that I am the most career-driven person she knows, and that a lot of other people she knows are very apathetic about what they’re going to do with themselves.

I work for a lobbying group, representing an industry to government and policy makers. I work on the marketing side of things, which I enjoy immensely. The fact that we have an agenda to affect change for the benefit of society is what gets me out of bed every day. Making money for the purpose of lining the pockets of shareholders is of no interest whatsoever to me. I’m dedicated to public service.

My recent musings about having left high school ten years ago uncovered an old memory that I think was the start of my interest in doing something with my life which would be useful and make a difference in the world.

I was about 14, maybe 15, and had this geography teacher called Elizabeth Smart - and smart she was. She was also a bit off the wall, but thanks to her I can still identify all sort of geographical things that I’d have long forgotten had it not been for her unique teaching style. I can’t remember how we came onto the subject, but one afternoon she was telling us why she became a teacher. 

“I just wanted to do something that gave something back and hopefully improved lives. I just can’t stand the take-take-take mentality of people, so I decided to do something with myself that meant something.” 

Knowingly or not, I filed that away and I think her words had an impact on me. I was 25 or so when I worked out what I want my ultimate aim to be. It’s a long game, it can be frustrating, and some days it feels like there’s very little progress. And then other days I get a lot done and I don’t feel guilty about going home and relaxing with a glass of wine and a movie. Today’s one of those days.