How we start off in life doesn’t always have to negatively influence where we end up. We sat down with up and coming blogger and IT Trainer Natalia Burgess as she shared with us her journey from not knowing how her circumstances where going to change, to becoming a blogger and working as an IT trainer travelling the UK and US … Dreams can come true

Why do you blog?

I always enjoyed writing, it was like therapy to me, a release of all the things I felt that I couldn’t talk to anyone about and I used to keep a daily diary of my life when I was a teenager. I stopped writing when I got into adult hood, but always wanted to write a book. Fast forward many years later, I decided to start blogging, it was more out of frustration if anything, lack of money, and a platform for my thoughts. Around that time, I setup the blog, I hated where my life was going, I was a single mum, in a low paid job, on the road to nowhere, but little did I know my life was about to change for the better.

Tell us more about that change?

My life felt like it was going on a downward spiral, I just didn’t know how my circumstances were going to change, until I got an opportunity to work on a project as an IT Trainer, which involves travelling around the UK and America. Basically we train staff to use the software we are in the process of rolling out for all our communities. I am also responsible for the “Go Lives” and manage those a few dates of every month. I really enjoy my job and look forward to meeting staff in all the locations I travel to. No two days are ever the same and that’s what I love most. Looking back on where I was a few months ago, to where I am now makes me realise that life does get better.

What is your aspiration in life?

My current aspiration in life, would be to impact people’s lives for the better. I’ve been through a lot of dark times, which I’ve dealt with in private. I hope to touch people through writing, as I’m not great at verbally communicating my deeper emotional thoughts and feelings, in fact I dislike talking about my darker times, because it prompts more questions, but hopefully it will inspire my readers and help them get through their own dark times. This section is called “paper thoughts.” And the aim is to get everyone sharing about how they have got through their dark times so that others can be encouraged.

Did you have a supportive family who believed in your dreams?

I stopped talking about my dreams to my family, because growing up was tough. My dad was a strict African man and education always came first. I was more of a creative child than academic, so I wanted to dance and create things, and this wasn’t good enough in my family’s eyes. When I turned 16 I wanted to study performing arts. But they had other plans, instead I was made to stay in 6th form to do a health and social care course, which I had no interest in. It was at this point, I knew my choices in life would go unsupported unless it was what they wanted me to do. As a result, It’s made me not to want to discuss my dreams but work hard, on actually achieving them.

Who inspires you and why?

There isn’t only one person who inspires me, but there are different types of people who do. Firstly, it’s my Grand Parents who were married over 50 years, had 5 kids and then travelled the world together, they taught me that fairy tales can exists. My sister also inspires me because despite being a teenage mum, she still got her degree and owns a property, it reminds me, you don’t have to be a statistic. And also people who have decided to dedicate their lives to helping others, in a world where people just want to help themselves, that really inspires me.

Any advice you would give to people wanting to pursue their dreams?

My advice would be to, write down your dream on paper, or create a vision board, give yourself a date, for when you would like to achieve that dream and do something every day towards making it come true, no matter how small that step may be. I think writing stuff down is really powerful and really helps bring that dream to life?

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