In recent years changing career paths at mature age has become more normalised in our society. The options to do so are vast and therefore many more individuals rethink their contributions to the workforce later in life. For me the journey began after having experienced a series of ups and downs, which ultimately taught me not only to be resilient, but also to live a more mindful and meaningful life.

I chose Psychology as a field of study immediately after high school, but due to health concerns I withdrew in 2006. Following my recovery, I developed an interest in marketing and commenced studies in Media and Communication Science, an opportunity that unexpectedly took me across the globe.

In 2012 and while completing an exchange year at The Hague University, I was offered an internship with SNV World, a mission-driven global development organisation, specialising in agri-food, energy, and water systems.  This opportunity would alter my life path forever. I was transferred to Southeast Asia, where I completed my thesis on the effectiveness of Social Media campaigns on awareness, funding and business-to-business opportunities for development programs.

While in Southeast Asia, I used my skateboard as a tool to connect with communities in Lao, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. Skateboarding embodied a uniform language and provided a fun and easy environment to learn and socialise with locals.

In 2013, I founded ‘Viet Shred’, a charity program to assist Vietnamese skateboarders in accessing equipment, sponsorships and opportunities to travel to international conferences and competitions. Witnessing how skateboarding changed people’s outlook on life as well as their interactions with each other sparked an interest in mindfulness and psychology.

Two years later, I established Longboard Family Inc. in Brisbane to start a community and public health program combining mindfulness and skateboarding. Several local Councils as well as primary and secondary schools endorsed the program. However, due to a series of events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, I had to make the difficult decision to discontinue the program.

While practicing mindfulness and resilience, I finally decided to attend university and commence a Bachelor of Psychological Science in my 30’s. New opportunities arose and I am now employed by headspace Warwick, an organisation that provides free psychological services. I am working towards my goal to become a fully qualified psychologist and to do research on community psychology, flow and mindfulness.

Photo by Alicia Christin Gerald on Unsplash