Change 100 has shown me what my standards should be

I’m a type 1 diabetic and I have always found it quite difficult to find employers with a flexible work routine. My disability can be very unpredictable. I felt uncomfortable disclosing my disability to employers and asking them if I could start a bit later sometimes because I struggle with my blood sugar levels in the morning.

When I first heard about Change 100 I didn’t really see the benefit, I assumed it was just another internship scheme. But after finding out a bit more, I saw it was accommodating and set the standards of how a workplace should be. I didn’t realise that workplaces could accommodate my health like this.

My internship at Fat Beehive

I worked for website design agency Fat Beehive as a digital marketing intern. My role was so flexible, and I was able to learn about other areas I was interested in. I was offered so much training – practical skills like design and website management, but also communication skills and teamwork, which wasn’t something I had developed at university. This really gave me a boost on my CV.

After my internship, I started my final year and began to apply for graduate schemes. I wouldn’t have been half as prepared for this if it wasn’t for the Change 100 assessment day. But then coronavirus hit, and a lot of schemes closed. I decided to do a masters instead because I wanted to specialise more, and I got a place at LSE for a MSC in Media and Communications.

I feel more confident to disclose my disability

I realise now that my health condition shouldn’t be an issue and I feel much more confident to disclose it now. I even have a Change 100 section on my CV, so people know I’m alumni! I don’t think I could work for a company where they didn’t make me feel comfortable working with my condition. Change 100 has shown me what my standards should be in the workplace.