I was fostered at a very young age, and I don’t remember much about my life before the age of 10. Not remembering much from my early years doesn’t particularly bother me. The main thing, I believe, is living each day as it comes. I believe that life offers opportunities to do things and to learn skills that help make us what we are.
For most of my childhood, I was with a foster family that moved around a lot. I lived in about 9 different houses and attended about the same number of schools. We lived in villages and cities; in suburbs and on farms. We lived at the bottom of beautiful hills and right opposite golden sandy beaches. I really think I’ve had it all.
In the early 80′s we made the long trek by caravan from South Australia to Western Australia, where I still reside. I do not really see myself leaving here, but I never say never!
While still at school, I undertook work experience for a large Australian retail electronics company. At the end of the two weeks work experience; I was offered a casual position, and keen to earn extra pocket money and learn new skills, I eagerly took up the offer, and I ended up working there full time once I completed high school. I worked there for 13 years altogether before I packed my bags and headed off to the state of New York, USA, to teach flying trapeze at a children’s summer camp called French Woods. This experience involved a lot of hard work, but it was extremely rewarding. I returned every year for seven consecutive summers. In between, I learnt a variety of new skills back in Australia as new opportunities came my way. I gained proficiency in database development using MS Access. I was also sourcing code to add to the database to allow us to do specific functions. I really enjoyed that work to this day I continue not only to improve my skills but to use them to help others.
In the last two years working at camp, I took on a new role, as a head counsellor. This was totally different to the very hands on work of the previous five years of working in the circus department. It allowed me do be more involved with the operational side of things and to meet a wide range of kids and their families. Many times, I’ve travelled around New York state before and after camp, staying with some of these families and many of these incredible folk are now among my best friends. Working in the summer camps not only gave me new skills, but also friends for life, world wide.
I now work for a company that recruits staff to work in the USA on the camps. I love the job, again getting to meet many people every day. I get to tell people about how much fun can be had working on the camps – and enabling them to have the same experience. I get to travel, talk to people, travel more and then get to meet more people. What more could one ask for? Well, if you can see yourself doing the same, contact me and find out!
Well that’s Scott Maney! I look forward to meeting you and learning about your life, too!
