b'Partner News Spring 2022 45CorporateBut as the weeks progressed anI didnt do my A levels or get those other inconvenient truth was emerging. For yearsjobs was that there was a much better Esnard had managed her undiagnosedopportunity further down the line that I dyslexia on her own and receiving a formalneeded to be free for.If you keep persevering diagnosis brought it to the front of her mind,and work really hard you sapping her self-confidence and affectingIf you keep persevering and work really her concentration.hard you will get there. It might be straightwill get there. It might be away or a couple of years down the line, butstraight away or a couple When I couldnt sit my A level exams andeverything happens for a reason and you get the results I had hoped for, I felt reallywill get what you work for. of years down the line, but stupid, unintelligent, a failure and that Ieverything happens for a wouldnt do anything with my life. All myPlay to your strengthsfriends had gone off to university and IAt Leonardo, Esnards able to play to herreason and you will get didnt feel worth anything. strengths and she believes one of thewhat you work for.reasons she received such a late diagnosis is Picking yourself up after a knock down that she is so confident and articulate. Her mother was convinced this wasnt a cause for undue concern as long as EsnardTherefore, being able to be open and honest kept moving forward to find what she waswith work colleagues has allowed her to meant to be doing with her life. She keptthrive. Shes able to use software that will reinforcing that things happen for a reasonallow her to dictate rather than having to and as long as her daughter was happy shetype documents and in meetings she is able could achieve whatever she set her mind to. to explain she cant take notes and talk at the same time, so they use another method.Esnard composed herself, and undeterred by unsuccessful job applications, startedShe now attends Bedford College one attending Luton Sixth Form College. Itday a week and is currently finishing a was during the summer of her first yearBTEC level 3 in engineering while working at college that she did a weeks worktowards Engineering Technician (EngTech) experience at Leonardo. professional registration.I felt I was having the best time of my lifeHer apprenticeship has allowed her to learning about engineering and meetingcomplete rotational placements across new people. We were looking at design,the business including departments such soldering things and the whole weekas systems integration, quality assurance, inspired me. I went back to college for asoftware, obsolescence and antennas. second year but didnt do very well. At first it was like I am never going to get to workFuture plans and the importance of self-carefor a company like that. When she finishes her apprenticeship, Esnard would like to move into an After college she held down three jobs atengineering role, inspired by her grandfather the same time, as a waitress, showroomwho was an electronics engineer at the assistant and gymnastics coach. It turnedNatural Environment Research Council. out that coupled with her intelligence and enthusiastic attitude and determination,However, her experiences have meant she all of these roles gave her transferrableprioritises her own wellbeing and as part of skills that made her a strong candidate forher Leonardo benefits package she makes Leonardo.use of her gym membership and flexi-time, which allows her to shape her day around a The opportunity shed been waiting for healthy, balanced way of living. Sharing why Reckoning she had nothing to lose, onshe believes self-care is vital to professional Christmas Eve Esnard sat with her Mum andgrowth, she says:filled out an application form. On 3 January that year, she received a letter saying sheLook after yourself, burning yourself out is was called to an interview. Then, just onenot fun. That means caring for your mental day after the interview, she received a calland your physical health. Listen to your to offer her the job.body and your mind and put yourself at the top of your priority list. Then you will beI was ecstaticI just cried, she says.able to grasp opportunities to the fullest This experience taught me that the reasonwhen they come along.'