My journey was never a straight line and extracurriculars never just sat on the sidelines in my life – they were the base to where I am now and who I have become as a person. Every ensemble, orchestra, and club I have joined, every “sure, why not?” opportunity I have committed myself to has really shaped my whole future more than I expected and hopefully others in the future. So, here is my journey of becoming a Mechanical Design Engineer degree apprentice at Siemens!

Before Engineering Was Even an idea

Tracing everything back to the beginning, engineering was not even on my radar to be honest. I was always someone who participated in everything and had something every other day of the week. Through guitar and piano lessons to golfing I was always unsure of what was to come.

Hours of orchestra and ensemble rehearsals to swinging my way through the golf course, my journey was never a straight line- it has been a collection of passions that somehow fit together. Music taught me discipline long before engineering did, showing up to weekly rehearsals, practicing pieces, and performing to large audiences.

Balancing all these with schoolwork developed my organisation skills at an early age, teaching me to become independent but also confident in expressing myself in concert halls like the Royal Albert Hall and Symphony Hall.

The same skills I used to navigate through my extra curriculars gave me the focus, discipline and teamwork which were transferred into my current role as a mechanical design engineer with the support from many of my teachers that helped me along the way, especially the ones that encouraged me to push harder at SFE.

Discovering the Spark That Shaped My Career

Following my GCSE years, I realised just how much design technology had shaped the way I think. I loved the challenge of creating something from nothing - taking an idea, sketching it out, and turning it into a product that could actually have an influence in the real world. That is also where I discovered 3D printing and saw how creativity, engineering, and maths - a subject I had always enjoyed - could come together in a career that felt both exciting and meaningful.

As I began to understand myself better, I realised I learned best by doing. Sitting in a classroom and absorbing information the traditional way never clicked for me - I needed to move, experiment, and apply what I was being taught in real time. Whether I was using the rigs to explore pneumatic and hydraulic systems or creating my own moulded metal pin badge, hands‑on learning was where everything finally made sense.

That is why, when it came to choosing a sixth form, I picked a STEM UTC that allowed me to take an Extended Diploma BTEC in Engineering alongside A‑level Maths. Looking back, that decision shaped far more than my sixth‑form experience; it laid the foundation for my university studies and the work I do every day at SIEMENS.

Building Confidence Through the Work That Didn’t Feel Like Work

Throughout Year 12, I spent one or two afternoons a week restoring a Land Rover with our headteacher, who was genuinely committed to giving us opportunities that went beyond the classroom. We were responsible for everything - reading manuals, diagnosing issues, ordering parts, and bringing the vehicle back to life piece by piece. It gave us real responsibility, taught us practical engineering skills, and showed us what it meant to work with precision and accountability.

When Year 13 began, I threw myself into apprenticeship applications – SO SO MANY. I knew how competitive the market was, and I understood early on that having a strong CV meant giving myself the best chance possible. Even though most of the opportunities were in electrical or civil engineering, I never felt drawn to those paths. It did not make sense to commit to something that did not excite me, especially when this was not just a short‑term decision.

Replacing the Land Rover restoration club, I joined the Slingshot Project at the Royal Air Force base in Cosford through the Air League. We learned everything from riveting and drilling to understanding the structure and behaviour of aircraft, and every session wanted to step deeper into real engineering. The opportunities were incredible - including attending the airshow, where I found myself completely captivated by the sheer capability of larger aircrafts like the Chinook.

Having these extracurriculars made a stark difference when it came to interviews. Whenever I was asked to talk about a situation I had handled or a skill I had used, I actually had real experiences to draw from. Being able to talk about moments where I had taken responsibility, solved problems, or worked as part of a team gave my answers depth and authenticity. It proved that skills do not only come from the classroom - but they also come from the things you choose to get involved in, even if they seem unrelated to the field you are applying for.

The Final Breath Before Stepping Into the Future

When I received my SIEMENS offer, everything finally felt real. I knew I had the grades I needed to start in September, and with that weight lifted off my shoulders, I took it as a sign to enjoy the rest of my sixth‑form life. I spent that time making memories with my friends and travelling as much as I could. Those last months were a mix of excitement for the future and appreciation for the moments I knew I would never get back.

I was incredibly privileged to volunteer in Borneo, Malaysia with my school - an experience that opened my eyes to just how fortunate I was back home. We worked directly with local communities, improving their living conditions by concreting water systems, restoring signs, planting trees, and even teaching English to younger children. After our project, we had the chance to explore the culture, hike through the mountains, and even spend a night sleeping in the jungle!

Spending my summer travelling - visiting family in Thailand, exploring with friends, and solo‑travelling in Korea for the first time taught me a level of independence I did not realise I was capable of. Navigating new places on my own, embracing different cultures, and throwing myself into experiences like making traditional notebooks, crafting cutlery, and carving personalised stone stamps helped me learn how to adapt quickly and think for myself. I pushed my comfort zone in every direction, from planting trees knee‑deep in mud with crabs scuttling around to jumping off high platforms into the water. Looking back, those moments did more than just give me memories; they built the confidence, resilience, and problem‑solving mindset I carried with me when I started my apprenticeship.

The Start of a New Chapter at Siemens

Returning to reality after such a full summer, starting at SIEMENS felt like stepping into a new community. We were thrown straight into four days at Brathay in the Lake District, where all the early‑career professionals met for the first time. It was intense in the best way - problem‑solving challenges, teamwork activities, and moments that pushed us to rely on each other through ghyll scrambling and the high ropes. By the end of it, we formed friendships and got the opportunity to network.

Now, ten months into my apprenticeship at SIEMENS, I can genuinely say I have learned more than I ever expected — not just about engineering, but about how a company operates from the inside. I have seen how a problem becomes a part, how an idea becomes a solution, and how every stage of the process connects. I have pushed myself to get involved wherever I can, from becoming a brand ambassador - and even ending up on the poster for National Apprenticeship Week - to designing my first mass‑produced part. Being given the opportunities to volunteer at events like the MACH at the NEC and the Big Bang gave me a full circle moment as these were events I used to go to and loved developing my STEM knowledge. The satisfaction of contributing to something real, something that exists beyond the classroom, is indescribable. It has made me even more excited for the future and the impact I know I can create as I keep growing in this field.

The Power of Learning by Doing

I truly believe that degree apprenticeships are very impactful to learning how the field works and gaining experience to help fuel your way to an incorporated or chartered engineer status. Not only learning at university but allowing yourself to apply it lets you keep your interest and further develop it in ways that may not be clear at first. For me, the path has been full of challenges, growth and opportunities which have shaped a future I am excited to keep building.

Elle Na Nagara

Mechanical design engineer degree apprentice at Siemens

You can find out more and connect with Elle on LinkedIn.