When I look back on my journey so far, I sometimes think of life as a long corridor, filled with doors. When we're young, most people go through the same first doors, like primary and secondary school, together. However, overtime, the paths begin to diverge, as people begin to open different doors to achieve their own personal goals.

Some doors open onto crowded hallways, full of voices telling you where you should go. Others open onto quieter paths — paths that have only been trodden by few. Choosing the quieter path takes courage, but it’s often where you discover who you really are. My first real step toward a career, a Business Degree Apprenticeship, wasn’t straightforward, clean, or perfectly planned. But it was mine, and every twist along the way has shaped who I am now, and who I’m becoming.

My Journey

Since I was young, I’ve always been determined to build a future where I could stand on my own and give back to the people who supported me — especially my parents. I was drawn to subjects like psychology, philosophy, business, and economics. By sixth form, I didn’t just want a job; I wanted a purpose. Something meaningful. Something that let me understand people, help them, and grow into someone I could be proud of.

I could have gone to university to study Economics. A lot of people expected me to. I expected to. But something felt off. The traditional path didn’t feel right; I wanted experience, not just education. That’s when I began exploring apprenticeships seriously. It wasn’t easy. Rejection emails come fast, and they hit hard when you’re 17 or 18 and trying to prove yourself. There were so many days I felt like giving up, like I wasn't good enough for an apprenticeship. Even now, seeing the word “unfortunately” at the start of an email gives me flashbacks to the darker days.

The Business Degree Apprenticeship became more than just an opportunity — it became a turning point. A chance to earn while learning, understand how a real organisation functions, and build genuine independence. When I got my offer, it felt like the first major door I had opened completely on my own.

Starting Work

But starting the apprenticeship brought a new set of challenges. Stepping into the workforce at 18, surrounded by experienced professionals, was intimidating. Impostor syndrome showed up almost daily. I used to imagine that once you land your first opportunity, everything instantly falls into place. The reality is different: you grow into it. Confidence builds slowly, through showing up, trying again, and realising that no one expects you to know everything from day one. Even now, I’m still figuring out who I want to become and still learning how to network, collaborate, and build strong relationships.

At the same time, the apprenticeship has unlocked a bigger version of me. I’ve never been the “one passion, one path” type of person. For a long time, I saw that as a disadvantage. Now I see it as a strength — it makes me adaptable, curious, and open to building a career full of variety.

I’ve found myself drawn to project management, psychology, languages, travel, finance, and operational strategy. I’ve also started building my own personal growth system, and each day feels like progress. I run, box, read, learn, and explore — all with the intention of living a life filled with adventure, meaning, and connection.

And at the core of it all, I still want to help people. To be someone who listens, especially to those who feel unseen, confused, or unsure of their next step — because I’ve been there too.

Remember

If there’s one thing my journey shows, it’s this:

You don’t need to have your entire life figured out at 16, 18, or even 21. Most people don’t. What matters is movement — taking small steps, trying things, applying for roles even when you feel unqualified, and understanding that resilience isn’t always loud or dramatic. Sometimes it’s simply the quiet decision to try again.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that your path doesn’t need to look impressive to be meaningful — it just needs to be yours. I used to compare myself a lot, to people at top universities, to friends who seemed more confident, to people who already “knew” what they wanted. Opportunities arrive in strange shapes, and sometimes the road that looks like a detour ends up becoming the exact route you needed. If you’re standing at the edge of a decision, unsure whether you’re “ready,” here’s my advice: choose the path that demands courage, not permission. It might be different from what everyone else is doing. It might even feel too big for you. But the moment you commit — really commit — momentum finds you. And before long, you realise you weren’t behind at all. You were simply building the version of yourself capable of going further.

I’m still at the very beginning of my career and still working things out. But that’s exactly why I wanted to share this — because most people at this stage feel the same way, and sometimes hearing that is enough to help you take your next step.

Julian Eseigbe

Business Degree Apprentice | Aspiring Leader

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