Rihanna Abdi John Mansaray, 18, has won LMP’s Apprentice of The Month! Rihanna is a Teaching Assistant at Southwark Inclusive Learning Service (SILS) in London. Here is her story:
“I chose to start this apprenticeship because I was a lot like the students I work with when I was at school and understand that their ‘bad behaviour’ is a way of masking what they are going through. The teachers who took time out to see that and help me made a huge difference for me and so I wanted to be able to make that same huge difference or even more for my students.
I tried both sixth form and colleges but found myself being kicked out; I didn’t have as much support as I did when I was in secondary so I decided something less educational for me might be easier for me.
I think the main benefits are that unlike school you get to experience a practical side where you also get paid. The best part to me is that through your apprenticeship you’ll get the opportunity to have training, make connections and have support from your tutor and mentor making it easier to then secure a full-time role in your chosen line of work.
I’m most proud of my personal growth and how I’ve become a reliable support for my students because despite my challenges with ADHD and dyslexia, I’ve learned to manage my own needs while still being able to make a positive impact on students who face similar struggles.
The best thing about my role is being able to help my students, being close in age with them makes it even better because I relate to them a lot more and can advise them well.
Marie and Jules have been stars, they took my ADHD and dyslexia into consideration and use scaffolding techniques to help me get through my coursework. They’ve both gone above and beyond for me, taking time out of their own lives to make sure I always felt fully supported.
The most important skill I’ve learned is time management, as it helps me stay organised and focused which allows me to balance tasks, support students effectively, and create a structured classroom. I say it’s most important because by managing time well, I can model strategies for students who struggle with staying on task and ensure they receive the attention they need.
My next steps still aren’t as clear as I’d like them to be but for now but I think once I finish my apprenticeship I’d love the opportunity to stay on and get a contract from SILS as I’ve built such a strong relationship with both staff and students.”
Marie Butler, Rihanna’s LMP tutor said: “Rihanna became a TA at Sils, which is a pupil referral unit at 16. She has been on a vast learning journey where she has had to learn quickly in her role, develop timekeeping skills and organisational skills which are more challenging due to her ADHD and dyslexia. She has persevered and has taken on board feedback and has developed into a competent TA. She is passionate about supporting young people, particularly those who have faced challenges and is fantastic at advocating for their needs.
We are all very proud of Rihanna’s progress and that Rihanna has completed the coursework and professional discussion for the course.”
Well done, Rihanna, best of luck in the future!
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