Hello, if you're reading this chances are you've met me or know something about me already. incase you haven't however, I'll start at the beginning, of the universe.
You thought I was kidding there didn't you? Luckily you're correct, my involvement in that is for later hearty discussions.
Family
My name is Benjamin Faulkner, I had a average childhood and upbringing, the younger of two boys from a happily married couple. My brother of 4.5 years more wise was always a role-model, despite sibling rivalry and generally aiming to misbehave. My father brought me in to cars at any early age, my earliest memory is him asking me to help him secure a piece of the car as he bolted it in as I had small enough hands and could fit under the car in the necessary place. My mother is what you would call a fretter, a fretter about cars and a fretter about her sons, this isn't a quality to be scoffed at either, she's always stuck up for me at the necessary points in my life, and I wouldn't have been the cheerful open young man I am today without her.
Education
My education is sparse, and derelict of any form of structure. Most of my qualities are self taught or taught to me by lost acquaintances and friends. up till I hit secondary school I was a model pupil, going to school every day and working hard, then I got past the age of innocence for other children and the bullying began.
With my moral already lowered I started to show symptoms of CFS after a string of illnesses that hit my immune system, during this stage I was bed ridden for most of, my brother decided to help me learn computers. He built me my first computer and as a result, dad built me a desk for the keyboard and the mouse that slotted on to my bed too, and I started to learn.
A few years later I was scheduled to go to the local grammar school, but due to my lack of care for places with bullies, and my disappointment in their capacity to separate us, I was transfered to Leicester Royal Infirmary Hospital School.
The Hospital school is basically a place for ill and depressed students, I neatly managed to fit in to both of these categories and after a while found myself a reasonably popular boy with new relationships which were a new concept to me. teachers which gave you care and attention, in a school with no bullying to be seen. Everyone was flawed in some form or another, so who could bully?
I failed my exams, that was inevitable, my ICT was unclassified, and the rest I just got low grades in, not a testimony to the school, everyone else did far better than me, it seemed, I was destined to be below par with average.
After School
After I left school I volunteered, like computers this was my brother's influence, and I soon found a place replacing him at a local computer centre, a couple years went by here, hoping they'd find funding to take me on, but in the end that wasn't to be, instead the people that did IT support there took an interest in me, and I still work for them today.
Employment
Officially I'm the "Workshop Manager" which means I organise any work coming in or out for repairs, and do it usually. It's a fairly repetitive task but it brings in money, I'm hoping to start doing more work with design in my future.
Where I stand now
Today I am a 19 year old, starting new exploration of relationships and people, struggling hard to be a people person. I've been surprised how much it feels worth every bit of effort invested in someone when they do something academically impressive and you can feel proud of them with every fibre of your being.
My design work doesn't break any expectations, it is of a junior level, and I can only hope I get some more experience soon. My job is part time again, after economic issues and lack of work coming in from schools. But I'm learning BSL in my spare time and have just taken my BSL101 exam. A+ Technician starts in february.
Family relationships are very strong, with us all getting along, nothing amazing, but no arguments and a silent understanding we're there for each other.