Andy’s story

Careers support helped Andy turn his passion for fitness into a career plan.

Andy, 16, was unsure about his future and what to do after school. He hoped to find a path that matched his interests and would lead to a career he enjoyed.

Andy said, "I fell in love with fitness, but I was doing police cadets at the time and thought that was the right route for me. After training for months, I realised what I really enjoyed was helping people.

"Before I went for support, I was scared about my future. I felt lost and didn’t know what I was going to do after school."

Feeling uncertain about his next steps, Andy contacted Careers Wales after seeing information shared by his school.

Exploring his options

Andy met with careers adviser, Toni-Jo. Together, they looked at different career ideas, including the police, fire service and sports-related roles.

They explored the skills these jobs had in common and how they matched Andy’s strengths.

During these discussions, personal training stood out as a strong option.

He said, "We talked about my skills, like communication, leadership and working in a team. When we looked at all the different roles, personal training just made sense. Fitness was always at the top for me. It combined everything I enjoy."

Taking action

Since then, Andy has taken clear steps towards his goal. He completed a BTEC in sport during Years 10 and 11 to understand more about the role.

He plans to continue developing his skills in sixth form and has independently found a two-week online personal training qualification course to complete after finishing his GCSEs.

He said, "I’ve been working towards finding the quickest route to become a personal trainer. I found the course myself because I know this is what I want to do."

Andy’s motivation also comes from his personal experiences. He was born with a heart condition and underwent several surgeries as a child.

He explained, "Because of my heart condition, I couldn’t always take part in certain sports when I was younger. Going to the gym has helped build my confidence, and I want to help other young people feel the same."

Looking ahead

Andy now feels focused and positive about his future, "Coming to Careers Wales has given me a goal. I know what I can achieve now."

He encourages other young people who feel unsure about their next steps to seek support.

Andy said, "Just do it. There are a lot of people who feel lost like I did. It really helps to have someone guide you and show you the routes you can take."

If you would like to explore your interests and opportunities with a careers adviser, please contact us today.

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