I started working at the age of 13 at a cafe in my wee town on the coast of Scotland. Itwas mostly for independence, but also something to do. Most places in Scotland aren’t too bothered what age you are, if you are professional and keen tolearn, they will hire you. Things don’t really change in that aspect when you get older. Show reliability, work hard and befriendly, you’ll be everyone’s best friend.
When I moved to Edinburgh for University, I snagged a job at an Escape room as a gamemaster. When it was the summer, I’d work many hours, but during term time, I would do a few days a week, which suited me perfectly. Being a game master had both its pros and cons. Is it fun to watch people tear the vents of the walls, absolutely, however most people want to be left alone, and only when asked do you help them, than what I was used to. The best part about hospitality is making an impression, so the next time they come back, they request you and start to feel familiar with them. I knew every local in my old town simply from being a waitress.
So, when thead came on Indeed for this job as a Tour Guide, I thought, why not? It was perfect for what I enjoy: the talking part, not the waiting part. After beingin Edinburgh for 3 years now, I would tell guests all about where to eat for cheap, nice places to stay and give directions to local spots. Now, I could tell them the history.
I didn’t have hope in getting the job itself, as I haven’t done tours before, and learning a script fo rthe first time was nerve wracking, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I also didn’t want another summer of waiting tables, or repeating the same task every day, I wanted something new and exciting. Something I could contribute towards and Experience Edinburgh, a brand-new company looking for their first ever set of guides, seemed like the perfect opportunity.
I must admit, I did hesitate before applying. I read all about learning a script and presenting in front of a group. Now I was used to that with the Escape rooms,giving long speeches about health and safety, and a lovely story about therooms themselves, I did that daily. However, when I forgot something, I would just make it up and hope that it held. These script however were fact, with dates,names, and specifications that had to be correct. Improvisation would be much harder, and someone could also call me out for something being incorrect.
Bit of a segway here. When I was younger, I adored the movie: We Bought a Zoo. As a family we actually went to the zoo, and got the original booked signed by the Author himself: Bengamin Mee. The reason this movie stood out for me is because of one simple quote, a quote I used all the way through high school when I was too scared to do something such as applying for a student rep role, and now during university when taking on a bigger leadership role or even asking a lecturer a simple question: “You know,sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.”
So, I applied, and thought nothing of it. I had applied to many different places around Edinburgh, but this one was the one I was hoping for. I was wandering around with my mother at the time, when Tony messaged me on Indeed, offering me an interview spot and a small script to learn. I got very excited and instantly showed my mother. She smiled at the time as I bounced around the store, and told me to just do my best, and prepare well.
Now for the interview itself, it was not the usual kind that I was used to. At the start,we met Tony and Jade, who offered us tea and biscuits which I took full advantage of. It was a small group of 4, which made me feel even more nervous.
As we did the group interview, I started to settle down, and become more comfortable speaking out, and answering questions. Then came the part I had been practicing for days, the presentation. I got Greyfriars Bobby which I was rather happy with. It was a simple story, but my nerves got the best of me. In the end, I did my best as I watched the people go before me and smash it, so when it was my turn to go on the wee stage area, I tried to remember the story in my mind and did the best I could. Before I left,I managed to mention I was a professional writer, “accidently” of course, which sparked their interest.
I started writing during Covid when I was around 16. It wasn’t for money, fame, or social media status, but simply because I adored writing and was bored rigid (like most people during the lockdown) and needed something to do. We lived on a farm, so we felt less pressure to stay inside. As my mum and brother baked and made vegetable patched in the garden, I sat in the fields and wrote. Day after day, that’s all I would do. Soon enough, I got a view ship big enough to be signed professionally and got paid for my chapters. It was a surreal experience for a 17-year-old.Unfortunately, it was the same day Queen Elizabeth II died, so kinda put adamper on things.
On the bus on the way home, I was a little disheartened. I got a fish pie as a wee treat for myself to cheer me up and told myself it was just a job; however, it wa sone I was really excited for. I had a few offers from waitressing jobs around the city. When you have 7 years of experience at 20, it’s rather easy to nab one of those.
A few days later, I woke up at around 8:30 and noticed the email had come through from Tony. I did wait a second before reading it, expecting disappointment to be honest. However, when I saw that it said application accepted, I sat upstraight right away. My heart was racing as little faster, and I called my mum to tell her all about it, which she was obviously just as happy as I was. I accepted the job quickly, to make sure Tony didn’t change his mind, and got excited about my first day in the next two weeks. I had a holiday to Spain first, and the day I got back, I could start. So, when you do have a little bit of courage, great things truly do come out of it. What’s the worst that could happen, they say no?