Jack’s school careers adviser gave him the confidence to follow his passion.
When Jack first met his careers adviser, Tom, he was still figuring out what the future might look like.
Jack, who is autistic and has ADHD, came across Tom at an equality and diversity lesson at school. Following this, Jack filled out a survey and was then offered a one-to-one careers session with Tom.
A starting point
At his first appointment, the conversation focused on Jack’s interests and what options might be available to him after school.
He said, “We spoke about my future and what I was going to do. I told Tom I was quite interested in my things like media and sports journalism.
“We talked through different routes, including courses, entry requirements and grade. We looked at what my steps could be.”
Building confidence
Over time, those conversations became about more than courses and qualifications. For Jack, having someone to talk things through with made a real difference.
He explains how the support helped him open up, “I found the sessions helpful in so many ways. I found my confidence a bit more.
“It really helped me to be able to go and speak to people more openly and just discuss things that I wouldn’t have done before I’d met Tom.
“If I didn’t know what my next step was, I could just go to Tom. It’s nice to know somebody I could talk to urgently about those things.”
Looking ahead
As Jack started to think more about life after exams, his confidence in the future grew.
He now feels ready to move forward and see where those choices might take him.
“I’m feeling really confident to take my next steps after my exams. I’m ready to go on to my next steps and see what life possibly brings.”
With Tom’s support, Jack has explored more than one option, keeping his future flexible while staying focused on his interests.
He explained, “I’ve applied for a media level 2 course, which is going to be beneficial to my future job in sports journalism, hopefully.
“Or if that doesn’t work out, I’ve decided painting and decorating could possibly be a path that I’d want to go into.”
Advice for others
Reflecting on his experience, Jack says the biggest change has been in how confident he feels about talking to people and planning ahead.
“I feel so much more confident to speak to people openly. I feel like the future’s ready and I can go into interviews and things like that.”
Jack even reached out to local football clubs to gain some voluntary experience. As a result, he covered a local football match as a guest writer on the Rhyl Journal.
For other young people who might be unsure about asking for support, Jack’s advice is simple.
“If they’re not confident in what they’re going to do in the future, or even if they are confident, I’d still encourage them to go to Tom. It’s definitely worth it, just to get that reassurance to know what you’re going to do in your next steps.”
If you would like to explore your interests and opportunities with a careers adviser, please contact us today.
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