What’s Your Dream?

“What’s Your Dream?” This is the question that Simon Squibb is currently asking. I have just finished reading Simon Squibb’s book after he came to my attention on Instagram. I recently watched Squibb being interviewed for a podcast that was live streamed on his Instagram profile. He was keen to share his new mission with “Helpbnk” which helps people have the confidence to start their own business. He has been breaking barriers of finance down by investing in those who have a dream and he has been able to provide help and advice to many by famously stopping people in the street and asking them, “What is your Dream?” This philanthropist is gaining more attention online as he seeks to help everyone he can. Unbelievably, this very successful business man had found himself homeless at 15! He did not go to University but instead created his own business - “Fluid” - which he later sold for a large sum of money. Simon Squibb believes that our Education System is broken and he believes in homeschooling. Infact, when I was watching the live podcast he said he had to pick his child up from his Cantonese Lesson. The current government are currently about to make this parental right much more difficult through the new proposed white paper - Children’s Wellbeing and School’s Bill. As with most things, this may not affect those wealthy individuals who can afford private tutors and provide unbelievable extra curricular activities. However, I believe with Squibb’s interest in Education that he may indeed be interested in how this may restrict those who want to do things differently.

I have found Simon Squibb’s book fascinating as a person who set her business up during lockdown. VB Tutoring is my metaphorical baby and I am very proud of it. My success comes from the ability to use my extensive teaching experience to help those children who are finding “English Language and Literature” challenging at school. A significant number of my students are neurodiverse and I offer them an alternative approach and more importantly a chance to have one to one support. I feel a sense of pride when they tell me how much they have improved and developed more confidence due to our sessions. I have also gained joy from those who come to me wanting top grades. Seeing those students gain those 8’s and 9’s on results day fills me with pride. My business is not earning me the big money that Simon Squibb’s businesses have earned him but it has provided me with similar feelings of joy and pride in being able to help others. How do we measure success? For me, it has been the chance to use my experience as a qualified teacher to provide support outside of the traditional classroom. These last five years have taught me about running a successful business and the joy that the autonomy of being my own boss has brought me. Like Simon Squibb, I want to continue to help as many young people as possible and especially to help those who are finding school challenging.