Andreas Odysseos - Born Ambitious Ambassador

We all have challenges, whether they’re small or big. When you move to a different country, especially at a young age, it’s really big. You’re leaving your friends, and the familiarity of what you’re accustomed to behind. Even though I had family here and visited during the festive periods, it’s different getting used to this being your permanent life. The idea of making new friends, adjusting to different surroundings and in general getting used to a new culture.”

With 3.3 million migrants in London, the largest number among all regions in the UK, this is a challenge faced by so many young people in the capital.

“People tend to forget that as a teenager you’re trying to find yourself. You can get lost within the sauce.”

Somewhere to go, something to do, someone to trust… we asked Andreas whether any of the tenets of youth work had helped him as a young person new to a big city.

“I tried to fit in and make new friends, not only from school but through joining football teams and getting stuck in. I’m thankful that naturally and through my upbringing, I had confidence. I took it all head-on and I wasn’t necessarily introverted. That’s my approach to learning. In the workplace it’s the same, it’s critical to engage in tasks that seem difficult and not quite comfortable as there is an opportunity for you to better your understanding in that area and sharpen your skills.

“I would describe myself as a sociable, gregarious person. I like meeting new people and hearing about their experiences, and what I can pick up from them – in life we are constantly learning. I’m quite sociable, I like going out with friends but, as I’ve aged, I like staying in too: you need to have a balance. Having too much of something is not typically good for you.”

For Andreas, this confident attitude and ‘getting stuck in’ has paid off. He is the first of his immediate family to have gone to University. Talking to him, it’s clear this has always been an important goal.

“Getting into Uni was a considerable achievement for me. It was also a joyous moment for my family: being the first of my immediate family to attend University was a proud moment for them.

I’m driven by my future goals and aspirations; I think I developed that from a young age. It tends to derive from being competitive either through playing sports or just trying to be the best in general.

Getting older, that drive gets stronger because you want to arrive at a level where you’re achieving the career heights you’ve dreamt of. You’re always going to have that aspiration to get to the next step.

It’s difficult to say if I’m where I thought I would be when I was younger because we can’t predict the future, but I kept education as a constant fundamental. But as you go through life, you’re evolving so it’s natural to pick up new interests and a love of different subjects. I didn’t necessarily know what I’d be doing at University. I just knew I wanted to get there.”

Still, Andreas admits there were moments along the way where his focus shifted; something that most of us struggle with as we move through our teenage years and early twenties. He reflects on those moments with self-compassion. In hindsight, he sees the positive in the inevitability of goals shifting and evolving, if there’s a learning attitude throughout.

“Attending University requires you to get the necessary grades. It’s like anything in life: you have to work to get to where you want to go. I think the questions ‘how do you describe yourself’ and ‘what do you want in the future’ hold a lot of weight. While it might seem daunting, considering these aspects early on is definitely beneficial. I would always suggest having a plan, it’s key as it provides direction and will help deter you from going down the wrong path.

I did have stumbles along the way. I suppose I didn’t get the best GCSE results that I should have because I lost focus. It’s easy to do so. People tend to forget that as a teenager you’re trying to find yourself. You can get lost within the sauce. By that I mean you’re evolving all the time as you mature, and adapting to new challenges.

By the way, it’s ok to change. Sometimes your goals start to differ. You might start your journey thinking you want to be a Partner or CEO of a firm, then later down the line realise you want to take ownership of your own establishment. Change is inevitable as you constantly develop, meet new people and take on new opportunities.”

“I live with my dad and he’s an integral part of who I am.”

When asked how he managed the challenges that came with emigrating, studying, and growing up, Andreas credits his father for always being there to support him.

“I like to deal with some of the things I go through in my own way, so I didn’t lean on lots of people… But I live with my dad and he’s an integral part of who I am. He gives me advice and he’s a good ear; I speak to him about anything.

He has definitely helped me along the way and kept me more focused. He reminds me of my goals and aspirations and that I might not reach them if lose focus. I give it to my dad and my aunts who are also active in my life.”

Every young person needs and deserves at least one consistent adult figure in their life, someone who believes in them and someone they can rely on. This is true of all generations of young people, but it’s especially relevant and urgent for young people today, who are still living through the effects of the pandemic, exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis, framed by a decade of cuts to essential services.

For some, like Andreas, consistent support comes from family. For many others in London, it comes from their youth worker, mentor, and role models at their local youth club. This is why we’ll never stop saying that young people need youth work.

“My advice for those trying to get to University: keep on working hard. It’s not plain sailing.”

Youth clubs and youth organisations are invaluable places outside of school and home where young people can develop confidence, resilience and skills. Beyond this, London’s employers and industry leaders are in a fantastic position to provide opportunities and open doors for the city’s future workforce. One such employer is Montagu Evans, a property consultancy where Andreas earned a nine-month placement. He applied through not-for-profit Chancerygate Foundation after reading about the opportunity in a press release. Once again for Andreas, a proactive move that paid off.

Montagu Evans is part of the Residential Development Agents Society (RDAS), a forum for companies involved in residential development land and property. RDAS has generously supported London Youth for several years, championing our mission to support the capital’s youth sector to improve the lives of young people.

It was RDAS who introduced London Youth to Andreas and recommended him as a Born Ambitious Ambassador, speaking volumes about the impression he made during his short placement. He recalls of the experience:

“My placement year was definitely another recent highlight. It was on the back of the pandemic too. I have luckily had internships in the past but never for such an extended time. I enjoyed it and found a great role model to show me the inner workings of how it all happens in a corporate environment.

One of the key things I took away from it was how crucial time management is. In the workplace you’re constantly juggling deadlines as well as incoming tasks so you have to manage your time wisely to complete the tasks to the highest standard. It’s crucial to success. You can’t buy time.”

What other lessons has Andreas picked up along the way?

The importance of being actively invested and interested in the topics you are focusing on. And most importantly to strive to stay motivated. How? By continuously checking in with yourself about what excites you.

“My advice for those trying to get to University: keep on working hard. It’s not plain sailing. What I will say is, have a proper think about what you want to study. Take into account your passions and interests but also how your potential field is going to unfold over time and will there be demand for your skills in that sector considering the advancements in technology, for example.

You might really like Economics… But what part of it resonates with you the most? Is it the dynamics of financial markets or the impact of public policies on the economy maybe? Are you a deep thinker? There may be different courses available that combine all these components. For example, a PPE course.

In my case I was interested in real estate and finance, so I chose Property Finance and Investment instead of traditional Economics. Being specific about that can help you get into a job tailored to your interest.”

“If you’re struggling, ask for help.”

Finally, we asked Andreas for some words to inspire other young people like him. Words he would have wanted to hear when he was younger, perhaps.

“To anyone else who has moved to the UK: you’re here now, I would say that you have to take it head on and move forwards. Get yourself into those opportunities and try and build your new path. Never give up and don’t take no for an answer – all it takes is one ‘yes’. Look at it almost like a restart: you can still be the person that you’ve always wanted to be. It’s a chance to reinvent and improve.

And in general: if you’re struggling, ask for help. Plain and simple. Things can get difficult and we tend to think we can do it all on our own. But once you’ve reached out – whether it’s to a trusted friend, family member, youth worker, or teacher – it will take a lot off your shoulders that you didn’t even realise was there.”

Thank you to Andreas, and thank you to RDAS and Montagu Evans.

Read more about Born Ambitious and follow London Youth on social media to be inspired by the latest Ambassador profiles!