Hi everyone! My name is Nowfa Mohamed, and I’m a Consulting Degree Apprentice at Accenture. My journey into being in the position I’m in today is a little different to most. It’s had its ups and downs, a lot of uncertainty, and more than a few moments where I questioned everything. But I want to share it in the hope that it might help even one person.

If you told me two years ago that I’d be working at a global consulting firm, speaking to clients and helping solve real business problems, I wouldn’t have believed you. Not even a little bit.

Because back then, I had my life planned.

In Year 11 when I was studying for my GCSEs, I was certain about my future: Law. University. The “traditional” path. It felt like the obvious choice - pick what you enjoy, go to university, build a career. Simple, right?

But after finishing my exams, it didn’t feel right anymore.

I realised that I loved working, being productive, and doing something practical. But when I looked ahead, all I could see was more studying. Sixth form, then university, maybe even a master’s… years and years of it. And I had to ask myself a question I think a lot of people avoid:

Do I actually want this, or am I just following what everyone else is doing?

When I started sixth form, I kept hearing about LinkedIn, so I downloaded it - not expecting much. The first thing I saw was an 18-year-old who had just started a degree apprenticeship. I remember thinking… what even is that? Even though I was nervous, I messaged her.

“Hi, what is a degree apprenticeship and why did you choose it?”

A simple question. But one that opened a door I didn’t even know existed.

She explained everything - how you can study and work at the same time, earn a salary, gain real experience, and graduate without student debt. I was genuinely shocked. How had no one told me about this before?

That moment taught me my first and probably most important lesson:

Sometimes you have to do the thing that scares you.

If I hadn’t sent that message, I genuinely don’t think I’d be where I am today.

Even after discovering apprenticeships, I still had so many questions. I wasn’t sure if I’d fit in or if it was the right path for me, so I started speaking to as many people as I could. I went to networking events, joined communities like Young Professionals, attended conferences, and spoke to apprentices across different industries. I kept asking questions until things started to make sense.

At one event, I even had the chance to interview Dan Miller, the CEO of Young Professionals. One thing he said really stuck with me:

“Do research and as many work experiences as you can. That’s how you’ll find what’s right for you.”

So that’s exactly what I did. I explored everything - law firms, consulting, real estate, insurance, banking, marketing, creative industries. You name it, I looked into it. And through all of that, I realised something…

It’s not just about the industry… it’s about the skills you build.

Communication. Teamwork. Problem-solving. Confidence. These are transferable. They’ll follow you wherever you go.

For a long time, I still thought law was the path for me. But towards the end of Year 12, I did work experience at Accenture and a Big 4 consulting firm, and everything changed. I realised that what I thought being a lawyer was like wasn’t actually the reality, and consulting felt dynamic, collaborative, and something I could genuinely see myself doing. That’s when I made a big decision… I changed my direction. Completely.

And that’s okay. You’re allowed to change your mind and realise that something you once wanted isn’t right for you anymore.

By the start of Year 13, I was ready. I had a list of companies I had researched and wanted to apply to, my CV was strong, I’d practised interviews endlessly, and I felt prepared.

But then life threw something at me I didn’t expect. I was diagnosed with a serious health condition.

It affected everything - my day-to-day life, my A-levels, my energy, my focus. I went from being a high-achieving student to struggling to keep up.

At the same time, I was applying for apprenticeships… And the rejections started coming in.

One after another.

I won’t lie - it hurt. Seeing “unsuccessful” again and again after so much effort wasn’t easy. It’s hard not to take it personally. I started questioning myself… Am I not good enough? Am I doing something wrong? Is this just not meant for me?

But then I remembered something someone once told me: “Rejection is redirection.”

And I held onto that.

Because being rejected from an opportunity doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. Sometimes, it just means it’s not the right opportunity for you.

So I kept going.

Even when I felt exhausted, even when my confidence dropped, even when everyone else was getting offers and I wasn’t, I reminded myself that one “no” doesn’t define my future.

During this time, when everything felt overwhelming, one thing kept me going: my faith. In Islam, there’s something called Tawakkul, which means trusting in God’s plan. It’s the belief that what is meant for you will never miss you, and what misses you was never meant for you.

That mindset carried me through one of the hardest periods of my life. When everything felt like it was going wrong, I kept reminding myself: “Indeed, with hardship comes ease” (Quran 94:6). Things might not happen when you want them to. They might not even happen in the way you expect. But that doesn’t mean they’re not coming.

At the same time, I had to stay strong mentally. There were people who doubted me, who told me I should just take the safe route - focus on my A-levels, go to university, and accept one of my Russell Group offers. They said a degree apprenticeship was too ambitious for me. And for a moment, I almost believed them.

But I didn’t let that stop me. I chose to trust myself and kept going.

And looking back now, I’m so glad I did because on Friday 14th March at exactly 4:53pm, everything changed.

I got a call.

I almost didn’t answer it thinking it was a scam…But it wasn’t.

It was Accenture. And they said the words I had been waiting to hear:

“We’d like to offer you a place on our Consulting Degree Apprenticeship Programme.”

After everything - the health struggles, the rejections, the doubt - I had made it. And what’s even crazier? Around the same time, I received four other offers too.

If there’s anything I want you to take away from my journey, it’s this:

Speak to people - opportunities don’t just come from searching online, they come from conversations. Stay curious and don’t feel like you need to have everything figured out straight away. Rejection is part of the process; it’s not the end, it’s redirection.

Remember that every company is different - just because one doesn’t see your

potential doesn’t mean another won’t. Focus on building transferable skills, because they’ll take you further than you think.

And most importantly, don’t wait until you feel “ready” - because you probably never will, and that’s completely okay.

Looking back, my journey wasn’t straightforward at all. It was confusing, overwhelming, and at times, really difficult.

But it was worth it. Not every journey is meant to be linear.

And now, being on the other side of it, i don’t want others to go through the same level of confusion alone.

That’s why I’ve become really passionate about helping others who are in the position I was once in - unsure, exploring, and just trying to figure things out. Since being an aspiring apprentice, I’ve been part of communities like YP, Outercircle and Apprentadream, and now I’m proud to be an ambassador, supporting other aspiring apprentices on their journeys.

Because sometimes, all it takes is one conversation, one piece of advice, or one bit of reassurance to completely change someone’s direction - just like it did for me.

Take your time. Do your research. Speak to people. And most importantly:

Don’t let fear or self-doubt stop you from trying.

I’ll leave you with this: Celebrate the small wins until you reach the big one. Because every step you take - every conversation, every rejection, every application - is moving you forward.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to start.

If my story has helped you even a little bit, that genuinely means everything to me. And if you’re ever feeling stuck, confused, or just need someone to talk to - please don’t

hesitate to reach out to me on LinkedIn. You’re not alone in this.

And trust me…you will find your way.

Nowfa Mohamed

Strategy & Management Consulting Degree Apprentice @ Accenture | 5X DA Offer Holder | OuterCircle Ambassador

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