Amazing road to success

MOHAMMED RAHMAN

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A TEENAGER who came to Oldham at the age of 11 unable to speak English has spoken of how the borough has helped him on his journey to success.

Mohammed Rahman has gone on to take A-Levels this year in maths, chemistry and religious education and is hoping to study philosophy at university.

He's just completed Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams' Working for Your Community Summer School 2017, which has boosted his confidence even further.

Mohammed said the course helped him realise that even highly successful people have "basic human emotions of self-doubt and insecurities" and he learned a great deal from meeting, and listening to various guest speakers, ranging from MPs to rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield.

Mohammed said: "Confidence is the biggest thing I got out of Debbie's summer school.

"Kevin Sinfield, who's a legend in the rugby world, talked about self-doubt, and that's something I've experienced myself after moving to Oldham at the age of 11 with my mother, and not speaking English.

"I definitely lacked self-confidence and it took me some time to acclimatise to my new life.

"When you're going through it you tend to think that you're the only person feeling that way. But to hear from someone like Kevin, who has achieved so much in his career, that he felt the same way too, just puts things into perspective and makes you realise you're not alone and everyone experiences these basic human emotions of self-doubt and insecurities.

"Also, going to Parliament and meeting MPs and speaking to them was a massive step for me.

"I couldn't believe that I'd come from Bangladesh eight years ago and was standing in one of the most famous buildings in the world. That gave me feelings that I can't put into words."

The summer school participants, who were aged 18 to 25, were based in Oldham for their first week, developing knowledge and understanding of politics and community development.

Projects

They spent the second week working with Oldham-based community organisations and charities on local projects and campaigns.

Mohammed, who spent his second week with Action Together, said: "My time at Action Together really helped me develop a better understanding of myself and what I'm capable of.

"When I started I had no idea if I could do the work they wanted me to do. But the staff there helped me by talking me through what was required and now I feel more confident about having a go at things.

"It made me realise that to progress in a career I need to speak to people who are experienced in their work and I can learn from them.

"The staff at Action Together gave me another boost of confidence in myself and helped me realise I'm capable of more than I realised.

"They've offered me paid work experience there so I'm really pleased with the way things have worked out and can't wait to go back and help them with their projects around fly-tipping, which is a big problem in Oldham at the moment and is something I know Debbie Abrahams is working on too."

Mohammed added: "I applied to the summer school because I've been unsure about what career I want, but I was interested in exploring the idea of politics.

"The experience really helped me because when we visited Westminster I realised it's a very hectic place and I might not want to be right in the middle of it all but, maybe, on the fringes in some sort of advisory role.

"So, taking part in Debbie's summer school has helped me to start to figure out what I might want to do in the future."

Mrs Abrahams said: "Each year the summer school brings us into contact with amazing young people from our own communities who are so full of potential and enthusiasm.

"Mohammed, and the other participants, may think they're learning from us but I know that we all benefit from the experiences the summer school creates.

"Mohammed's story is inspiring when you think that he has blossomed from a shy young boy, who didn't speak English, to an articulate young man who wants to go out there and put something back into his local community.

"All of us feel shy and inadequate at some point in our lives but I was inspired by the words attributed to Nelson Mandela: 'There is no passion to be found playing small; in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living'.

"I hope all my summer school students leave thinking along the same lines and realise, that we are all capable of much more than we might first imagine."