My name is Paola, I’m 33 and came into the UK exactly 10 years ago after finishing my first degree. I wanted to continue my studies here but never in my wildest dreams I thought I was going to stay and build a family and a career in this Country. I have a very big family back in Sicily, lots of friends and connections, who I adore and miss every day. I guess for me it was a way to find my own path and grow as independent woman away from any conditioning or expectations that sometimes close communities have. I liked the availability of opportunities, the diversity and the value this adds to the communities in the UK, so I decided to stay a little longer and dragged my then partner (now husband) with me the year after. We have worked very hard to fit in and build our lives together here. There is no day that passes that I don’t think if this is the right decision for me, but after 10 years, a mortgage, a full-time job and 2 little girls, I feel I have found my space and balance for now. My journey in policing started in 2018 when I took a role in the then business support team in L&D. My working career to that point had only the aim of sustaining my studies so there wasn’t really a plan outside of being able to afford rent and bills and Uni fees. I was fresh out of Uni and everything from there was a massive learning curve in all aspects, professionally and personally. There was the language aspect, office dynamics and conversations, and all sorts of little things we often take for granted but that can look so different for someone born and bred in a different culture, who have never heard of “Strictly” or always been greeted by “how are you?” without expecting any answer whatsoever (why do you ask then?). Things that can make you feel a little out of place and alone.
I was lucky enough to land in the Talent team a few years ago which has given me the chance to connect and work with amazing people who made me feel welcomed and valued, who believed in my potential and shared my core value of wanting to make a difference in policing. We launched the Becoming programme with WoCiPBCH, which really started me off in finding my voice and confidence, and I discovered I was not alone in the organisation and there were so many other women who were having the same thoughts and feelings and challenges as me. This in itself have given me strength to keep going, to verbalise my thoughts more often in meetings, to own my opinions and values, because I knew now they were worth sharing without fear of judgement or repercussion because “she doesn’t understand, she doesn’t speak English” (this is more in my head than in others). I’m still learning, and no day passes where I don’t discover something new or learn a lesson.
International Women day is the perfect opportunity for me to remind me that there are still so many women who need to find their voice especially in male dominated workplace like policing.
In Italy, the “Giornata Internazionale della Donna” is celebrated the 8th March too, and nationally is a big event where the mimosa flower (bright yellow marble flower) is gifted to women or painted in cards from children to gift to the women in their family. Is a day of kindness and recognition for the big contribution women of all age and status give day by day in work, family, education and beyond!
Buona festa della Donna!
