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Introduction: The Big Decision When I was 18, I was faced with a decision that many young people struggle with — what comes next? My A-Levels were still unfinished, and while many of my friends already knew exactly what they wanted to do, I had no clear path ahead of me. Should I take a gap year? Go to university? Or try an apprenticeship? The uncertainty felt overwhelming at times. Little
Why Wait? “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X This quote speaks to me as a call to action, the future is ours to shape, so why wait? I’ve always moved fast, knowing what I want and where I want to be. Uncertainty never sat well with me, and with the tech industry never slowing down, cybersecurity moves even faster with new threats emerging daily and vul
Starting my apprenticeship applications was initially overwhelming. Even today, while there are more resources and advice available, as an aspiring apprentice you may feel out of your depth, unsure about how to stand out but one thing I have learned is that success often lies in making the first steps no matter how small. Three Hard Truths I Learned Along the Way 1: Becoming comfortable wi
My professional journey has been anything but linear. Marked by significant milestones as well as unexpected setbacks, my path has taught me that challenges can become the catalysts for growth. I will share my experiences, from an intensive apprenticeship at JP Morgan to a transformative degree apprenticeship in Data Science, demonstrating how apprenticeships can open doors, build essential sk
Having worked in local government for six years, I was getting comfortable. Too comfortable… I’ve always been the type to challenge and push myself. I never liked to sit idle. But my current job was simple, straightforward, and I was pretty much set for life. I got my first job at my local council at the age of 18 through an apprenticeship, which opened so many doors and allowed me to progres
Hi I’m Yusuf Patel. I’m currently working as a Senior Administrator for National Highways and before this I was doing a level 4 project management apprenticeship with them also. The journey to get to where I am now has not been easy, but it’s been very rewarding. Self-doubt is something that I’ve had a lot of, however I’ve been able to prove myself wrong eventually each time. The Beginning
At one point, I had two choices: either let my circumstances define who I was or believe that there was more out there for me. I chose the latter. Coming from a lower socioeconomic background could have discouraged me from pursuing my ambitions. Instead, it instilled an unwavering drive within me, further strengthened by my mother, who always believes in me. I attended state schools throughou
In life, we all encounter challenges that test our resilience and character. For me, it was the decision to leave university and start afresh as an IT degree apprentice at Howden. At the time, I didn’t know that this decision would lead to a rewarding experience filled with growth, learning, and a platform to inspire others, but dropping out of university and doing a degree apprenticeship has
As I reflect on my career journey, one word consistently comes to mind: resilience. It has been the driving force behind every achievement, every setback, and every moment of growth. Resilience is what has carried me through the toughest of times and allowed me to rise above obstacles that could have derailed me. I didn’t take the traditional route to where I am today, and along the way, I en
Hello, my name is Nathan Humphreys and I am 19 years old. I recently completed my Level 3 Business Administrator with City and Guilds, employed by University College London in June 2024. Since completing my apprenticeship, I have taken on a new position as Systems Administrator as Now Student Living, whilst also working towards a Level 4 Project Management Diploma. Secondary School Exp
Imagine dedicating 12 years of your life to a passion. Waking up everyday looking forward to the next, and maybe even finding your sense of self within the process. Well, for me that was lost when i made the decision to decline the opportunity to join a professional football team the year of my GCSEs. My name is Tia Melika El-Ahmadi, a 1st year apprentice at the world’s largest asset manager.
The plague of imposter syndrome Diving into education and study full time straight from sixth form college can be daunting. For me, an overwhelming sense of imposter syndrome settled in and I truly began to doubt every move I made. It took me a while to realise that the reason I was here wasn’t because of a stroke of luck or to tick a diversity check list but because I had worked hard, and
Hello, my name is Arber Ismaili and I am currently 20 years old in the last year of my BTEC studies, and I want to tell you guys the story of how I was a shy individual to now a confident and articulate individual who has managed to secure a degree apprenticeship offer from HSBC. Growing up, I was always quite shy most of my life and as being autistic it was much harder to try and learn how t
I remember how it felt not knowing where my life was heading. At first it was really scary and I honestly found it easier not to think about it. As time went on though I wanted to try something different and decided it was better to go all in on something I wasn’t 100% sure of than stay in a state of limbo. This is the story of how I went from no clue to working for one of the biggest tech com
Hi, I’m Andrew Johnson, a recent graduate from BT’s Degree Apprenticeship scheme, where I specialised as a DevOps Engineer at Adastral Park. My journey wasn’t a straight path, but it was one filled with invaluable lessons, resilience, and growth—a story I hope will inspire you if you’re just starting out. The Journey Begins: From Uncertainty to Discovery After Sixth Form, I had no clear di
