Atrix, Learning Support Assitant

Originally from the USA, Atrix has a background in theatre. They’ve directed productions in New York and London, and taught modern dance and choreography to young children and teenagers. They moved to the UK in 2019 to take their Masters degree.  

So, with all this in mind, just how did Atrix become a Learning Support Assistant (LSA) for RSBC? 

They explain, “When you do theatre directing, you need to survive between jobs. In New York, as well as working in restaurants and retail, I did a lot of babysitting for families, and quite a few of the children had special needs. I enjoyed being with them a lot more than serving meals and working on a till.“ 

With that in mind, and now living in London, Atrix started to look for roles working in schools. “I was interviewed for an LSA position at a school, but didn’t get it. I’m dyslexic, and I think it was because of their preconceived ideas around me being able to give medication and provide pastoral care. I was so excited about the job, so it was a bit disheartening not to get it.” 

But, undeterred, Atrix looked again and found that RSBC was looking for an LSA at Dorton College, its further education college for vision impaired young people aged 16 to 25. “It specifically appealed to me as I wanted to be an LSA for teenagers and young adults with special educational needs and disabilities. I was intrigued, as I’d never worked with blind and partially sighted people before.” 

Atrix’s interview at RSBC couldn’t have gone better. “The role – and RSBC as an organisation- just seemed like the right fit. I knew I’d be allowed to be me, and that I could use the practical experience I had. RSBC were very flexible with me and bent over backwards to accommodate what I wanted to do – as bank staff, I could work 3-4 days at Dorton and take another bank role at a nursery for 1-2 days. That way, I’d work with a mix of younger and older children and, as I live in Central London, travelling to Orpington to Dorton College would break up my week.” 

Atrix started with RSBC in May 2024. “The induction was great. I had lots of safeguarding training, and I sat in lessons at the college hub. I was given little things to do to begin with, so that I was involved from the start. I went to one of our partnership colleges at Bracknell and shadowed an LSA there, and I went to the Bromley College campus with two students I worked with in the last educational year. The rest of the time, I worked with the other students. I never felt thrown in at the deep end at all. I’ve been encouraged all the way, and been supported to develop my skills, including starting to learn braille.” 

In the current academic year, Atrix has been supporting different students. “I’ll be assigned to one of the new partnership colleges with a student on one day, and on the other days, I’ll be at the hub with perhaps several students or just one. It’s great, because it keeps things fresh.” 

Atrix feels that they’re using much of the expertise they’ve acquired during their career in their Dorton College role. “So many theatre skills are really just people skills. They’re translatable, such as the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.  

“In theatre school, I did playwriting and alternative thinking around topics, visually and physically. Lateral thinking has benefitted me in the role, such as how I communicate with other people and express myself. I have ADHD as well as dyslexia and can struggle to articulate things in written form.  

“But here, I could tell they were looking for the right attitude and intelligence rather than just fantastic written skills. Everyone’s very open minded. Many students are neuro divergent and some just communicate differently, and it’s important that their needs are all accommodated. I feel that I can relate to the students well, and I’m able to put myself in their shoes. In the future, I think I can bring a lot to the events we hold at RSBC to make them exciting and, of course, as accessible as possible.  

“I feel supported and accepted for who I am at RSBC. For so long, I’ve wanted to be in a place where I’m taken care of, and where I’m not just working on my own. Sometimes, I think to myself: OMG, I’m in a professional working environment, where career progression is actually a thing!” 

What would Atrix’s advice be for anyone thinking about joining RSBC? “If you’re applying for an LSA role, you should be really excited! You’ll play a big part in someone’s life for the day. It’s so much more than simply looking after a young person.  

“These teenagers are all in college and learning, and you get to make sure they can go about their day in the best way possible. It’s mentally challenging, rather than physically, and the days go very quickly! You do sometimes have time to sit and have a coffee with them – it’s not just go-go-go all the time – and that makes it so much more enjoyable. But there’s no better feeling than knowing that you’re almost part of the family, working with students who are preparing for adulthood and their independence.” 

 

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