Spotlight Feature
Michael Lennox
Take up every opportunity that arises from school, to college, to university, to working life, because that as well as decent qualifications will make you stand out as the person you are.
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Tell Us About
Yourself
Hi I'm Michael Lennox
Age: 19
Occupation: Student and Student Ambassador Supervisor
Desired career: Marketing & Events Management
Studying at: Bournville College
What song would best describe you?
I have thought long and hard about this and I don’t think there is only just one song. The first song I chose is ‘The man’ by Aloe Black because I think it describes my personality as I take on every opportunity and I am confident.
‘Life is a highway’ by Rascal flatts literates the fact that I take every opportunity up and life is an actual highway, I can do whatever I want (within reason).
I stick to my guns and don’t give up to easily however hard it gets and I do that with a smile on my face, this is where my third choice comes into it ‘Happy by Pharrell Williams’.
What is your favourite inspirational quote?
I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination - Jimmy Dean
Tell us about interests or hobbies.
My hobbies are keeping fit and healthy at the gym at least twice a week. I like going on walks with my sister or my partner and spending time with my mates, either going to the cinema or bowling. My interests are making sure my university work is at the best of my ability and that I always take up every opportunity that comes my way.
For 8 years now, I have been doing sponsored walks to raise money for Birmingham PHAB Camp which provides holidays aimed at creating inclusion for disadvantaged young people, with and without disabilities, in the Birmingham area. They rely on £100,000 a year.
What are your career goals/aspirations?
My aspirations is to go into event management, I'm not sure what field of events I want to go into however, I am enjoying my work at Bournville.
What challenges do you face?
As a student, my challenges are very minimal as I have no big responsibilities like family or housing, however I have got to rely on Public transport which is not always the best.
The challenges that I will face after I’ve left university will be finding a full time employment, however with
opportunities that will arise between now and then will help me to achieve that. The challenges I will face when competing for roles in my preferred profession in the future will be, experience, have I got enough? And having the right qualification and are they as high as other peoples?
Can you tell us, what is your most favourite aspect of your role?
My favourite aspect of my role is meeting new students before they even start in September, so when they do start that academic year, they see a friendly face around college who isn’t just a staff member.
What has been your greatest career milestone to date?
Being awarded the Sir Winfried Bischoff award for The Midland region in partnership with Career Ready UK. I was up against lots of different colleges and sixth forms from Career Academies in the UK.
There were 7 winners in total, one from each region.
Who has been your inspiration both personally and professionally?
Personally, my sister, as she faces huge difficulties but does so with a massive smile on her face each day. She’s disabled, wheelchair bound, but even this doesn’t stop her, she goes out to day care every day, learn new things and has fun with all her friends. It’s so important to keep positive, because you should always be looking forward, because there are always setbacks in life and if people weren’t positive, people around you and I wouldn’t be who they were today if they were negative.
Professionally, it’s Jamie Dunn, Jamie is a young entrepreneur who has his own business and works along other people on other big projects. He is one of the Top 20 Young People in the World and I look up to him because he shown that whoever you are or wherever you’re from, if you work hard, have a good attitude and are determined you can be whatever you want to be.
What would you like to achieve in the future?
I would like to be able achieve my Business studies degree at a high level and be in a job that I bounce out of bed every morning instead of dragging myself up.
What advice or tips of positivity would you like to share with others?
Take up every opportunity that arises from school, to college, to university, to working life, because that as well as decent qualifications will make you stand out as the person you are.
Don’t be scared to ask questions, there is no such thing as a stupid question.