In my work, I want to build a sustainable career for myself that celebrates people\u2019s strengths. A career that helps resolve the challenging. I have come a long way from my \u2018dark places\u2019 by journaling. Journaling provides a sense of clarity, enables me to make changes (e.g. work-related, personal, etc.) and allows me to thoughtfully reflect on my present internal and external environments. Journaling also helps me govern my values, inform my job research (e.g., Stonewall is a great resource), and envisage my future. I fervently believe progress on my journey has come from proactively taking time to pause and reflect.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n My experience of the job market has been quite diverse. I\u2019ve worked as a barista, a make-up artist, in HR, at a law firm and with the NHS to name a few. But, have I ever felt prejudice or discrimination? <\/span><\/span>I find a precise answer hard to give. I cannot recall direct discrimination. I think, sometimes I feel as if there was prejudice but at other times, it was only my perception. In the past I have certainly felt insecure about my sexuality and misattributed negative signals to this.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n However, discrimination can also take more subtle forms. For example, at school and work, I have been excluded from situations and not known the reason why. It\u2019s often a silent act by others but can this be considered discrimination if the evidence is unclear? I recognise I may sometimes misinterpret situations but most often my intuition serves me well. In hindsight, I think exclusion like this was likely to be because I was different. However, I celebrate my uniqueness. It\u2019s my liberation: my call to celebrate myself and recognise the uniqueness of others. To express, to live, to understand, to create and to connect. To cherish the lessons of life\u2019s precious moments.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n People at work help me find my strength. They are my friends, kind colleagues, the compassionate people at Student Services, and present and former workplace LGBT+ groups. They are social, their warmth safeguards my well-being and helps me feel confident, courageous and determined to practise kindness and forgiveness. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>So, when approaching any new activity \u2013 job, or otherwise \u2013 I seek to cultivate relationships that foster shared understanding and experiences. This helps me understand who I am and how I belong.<\/span><\/p>\n If you are interested in finding out more about Aidan's research click here<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/82\/2019\/02\/Aidan-Murch.png\")
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