Becoming a British Consul General for a day (CG4D)
At the start of February this year, I applied for the opportunity to become a British Consul General for a day in celebration of International Women鈥檚 Day. I answered questions about what diversity means to me, and the competition closed on Friday 23 February. Two winning applicants between 16-22 years of age are chosen every year.
On Tuesday 9 April, I navigated through the bustling city shops, and I managed to find the building. It was located on 90 Collins Street. I pressed the button for the 17th floor, and a man joined me in the elevator. To my surprise it turned out to be the Consul General himself, Mr Stephen Lysaght.
The schedule for the day was quite packed, so as soon as I put my stuff away, I was introduced to Amelia, the other applicant winner from St Columba鈥檚 College in Essendon. One of the things I vividly remember was feeling a bit out of place at first. The sensations of nervousness rushed over me, but I tried to keep my mind focused for the day.
The day began with a Citizenship Ceremony. The process was quicker than I had anticipated, nonetheless it was quite an exciting experience for me to witness because I鈥檝e never come across this type of ceremony before. We then moved rooms to talk a little bit about Scottish Development International (SDI) with Ms April Kelly, the SDI Country Head and Inward Investment Lead. The Scottish government is currently striving to grow the Scottish economy in a sustainable way. More specifically in terms of businesses applying environmentally sustainable practices, in order to align with Scotland鈥檚 mission to reach net zero emissions according to the Paris Agreement. It was a good opportunity for me to learn more about renewable energy, with a focus on offshore wind, and utilising Scotland鈥檚 resources to be part of investment and trading for the economy.
The time flew by fast and by the time more meetings were finished, we had a short period to have informal catch ups with some of the staff from the Consulate. I had a brief conversation with Ms Tanya Williams, another member of the Consulate who had equipped herself with a variety of skill sets from different jobs she had undertaken during her lifetime; similar to that of her peers from the office. Her insight about letting one鈥檚 passion drive them to find a suitable career, was one that I value deeply. It resonated with me, and I do think it resonates with a lot of individuals especially young people in feeling lost and unsure in making these decisions.
I think the highlight of the day was seeing all these people from different backgrounds, and yet they share a common ground in wanting to help people. It was really inspiring to witness an atmosphere full of passion to change the status quo, especially the transformation towards a green economy.
As the day unfolded, whether it was talking about Consular and Crisis for British citizens seeking temporary refuge, a crash course in diplomacy and politics or a meeting with the Victorian government to maintain the good efforts of international relations, they too, shared the same message. The job comes with a great responsibility, and I am in awe of the staff 鈥榮 teamwork and dedication to help those in need.
I do feel that at the end of the event, my heart was full. The out-of-place feeling I had felt at the start of the day had disintegrated. I might not be able to understand the many, many, many abbreviations they use in their meetings. But I may know a thing or two about the difference between trade and investment, or the absurdity in the McDonald鈥檚 theory of conflict prevention. I do know for sure that I left feeling inspired, and full of hope. A hope that a change for the better, no matter how small, can happen. And it can only happen together.
Thank you to each and every one of the staff members of the Consulate that I鈥檝e had the honour of meeting throughout the day. Mr Stephen Lysaght (British Consul General), Ms Catriona Boyd (Deputy Consul General) and Ms Philippa Campbell (Chief of Staff) in particular for their warm welcome as soon as I stepped inside the building. I say this with my deepest gratitude to all, thank you for your kind and encouraging words too. This experience is definitely one I will never forget. I hope to see you all soon in the near future!
I鈥檇 also like to thank Mr Grant as Head of Student Voice for introducing me to the event through the Leadership classroom. And last but not least, Amelia, my lovely 鈥渃oworker鈥� for the day! It was fun being Consuls General with you.
By Fathya P (12J)
