Middleton woman follows her teaching dream

Tracy Thomas

A Middleton woman who embarked on an educational journey following a chance encounter has landed herself a career in teaching sport and fitness.

Tracy Thomas, 49, a carer for her husband Mark for the past 14 years, is now teaching classes rather than participating in them.

Mrs Thomas’ journey began after talking to Farrah Rehman, Youth Sports Volunteer Engagement Officer for Link4Life, who encouraged her to enrol on a Community Sports Leadership Award.

The course is funded by the Government’s Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities (NLDC) fund.

Locally Hopwood Hall College manages the fund and distribute it to charities and community/voluntary organisations to offer engaging learning opportunities to residents over 19 years of age; Link 4 Life is one of the local organisations it works with.

Mrs Thomas has spoken of how the experience has changed her life for the better.

She said: “A year ago I was at a very low point in my life. I had raised my children to the best of my ability and had been a good wife to my husband of almost thirty years. I expect no medals for that, neither do I expect any pats on the back. For the last 14 years my husband has suffered from a rare condition and I have the task of being his carer.

“This task has been daunting and demanding at times and can become a very solitary position to be placed in. You learn not to complain and you become very reserved; I personally retreated into myself and felt a bit like that ‘Cat in a bag’ that the Verve sang about so sadly.

“Although I had been quite an accomplished therapist years ago, my confidence had dwindled, and I had very low self-esteem. I came into contact with Farrah almost by accident, and after a quick discussion, she offered me a place on the Community Sports Leadership Award’ course at Furrow Park and I hesitantly agreed to attend.

“On the first day I made every excuse I could find not to go in; I even thought about throwing a sickie. I drove around the block at the school three times, then after feeling completely pathetic for thinking about letting people down at my age, I painted on a smile and walked in.

“Alan Morton the teacher met me on the way in, and asked me to grab a box of bean bags and that was the start of my new life.

“After successfully completing the course, I spoke with Farrah and decided to take an Exercise to Music course at Hopwood Hall. I passed!

“My life has now completely changed, and sometimes I have difficulty associating myself with the person I was before I stepped onto the course. I now teach all levels of exercise to music, and I couldn’t be happier.”

Mrs Thomas, added: “I am still a carer, but now I am a whole person and I have my own identity and I am learning to be an accomplished teacher. I wouldn’t say that I am a particularly smart person, and I am definitely not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

“However there is one thing I do know, without the help of people like Farrah Rehman, and lots of other people whom I’ve had the good fortune to come into contact with, I would still be sat at home with my head in my hands worrying about tomorrow.

“I’m not under any illusions about my life, I know that there will probably be no miracle cure for Mark, but I am a much stronger person now and I am able to make decisions clearly.

“I was given new skills by the Link 4 Life and Hopwood Hall College team that made me realise that I am the master of my own fate and only I have the ability to change. And that’s exactly what I decided to do!”

Jonathan Gibson, the College’s NLDC project co-ordinator, said: “Tracey is a great example of how it is never too late to follow your dreams. She has worked extremely hard and deserves all the success she gets. She is an amazing woman and a fantastic role model for anyone who is looking to gain qualifications and a life changing career.

“Tracey proves that if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything you want; she has reached her goals in 6 months through determination and commitment.”