Sabrina Davis

To cut a very long story short my school years were difficult and certainly not the focus of my attention during this time. I now think of these years and events as initiations into my adult life for which I would not change no more than I would change any aspect of my life right now!

I left Millbrook Academy in 1998 to attend Portsmouth University to study Sociology. I still consider to this day passing both my GCSEs and A Levels as a minor miracle and I am certain that if it was not for the support of the school I would not have completed my education. In particular I remember the kindness of Stuart Langworthy and Kate Parker who supported me in both my studies and in personal and practical issues.

I moved into a hostel when I was 16 and subsequently missed a lot of school, there were numerous occasions when I wanted to leave school but every time I was persuaded to stay. I even missed all my mock exams but was still supported into sitting the final exams. It was the smaller things that made all the difference though such as teachers giving me dinner tickets, and even helping me to move and giving me stuff for my flat!

I do not believe that a university education has brought me to this present day, but I believe that it was opportunity and experience of university that has. After graduating I worked in supported housing for young people before fulfilling a dream of travelling. I left in 2002 to travel Australia and south East Asia; I returned 16 months later and continued working in supported housing in Scotland, and then moved to London to take a post as Youth Specialist Outreach Worker in Westminster. Eventually though I moved back to my university town where I managed a Young Person's Substance Misuse Treatment Team.

As happy as I was in my work life my desire to live and work in different cultures won over. I am now living in Kerrala, South India, working on some projects with friends, including setting up a volunteer programme working in a local fishing village, and contributing to the creation of an African village, (all things are possible in India!!). For the most part though I drum on the beach at sunset, practice Reiki, and sit under the stars with friends ... Kerrala is known as "God's Own Country" because of its beauty.

Sabrina Davis