Careers support helped Ashlei discover a future in aerospace engineering.
Ashlei felt unsure about which direction to take after finishing her GCSEs.
She said, “I had a lot of options in my mind, but I didn’t really know which path was best for me.
“I wanted to do a hands-on subject. I was thinking about going into construction or something similar to that.”
Exploring options and making decisions
Ashlei knew there was a careers adviser available in school. She made an appointment with Liz to seek extra guidance.
Ashlei said, “Speaking to Liz really helped me narrow things down. We talked through the pros and cons of each option.
“Liz suggested I go to college open evenings, and that really helped me.”
Originally, Ashlei had been considering a construction course. However, after attending an open evening event at The Hive, she discovered she had great enthusiasm for motorsport and aerospace engineering.
Liz also supported her to use the Careers Wales website and explore college and apprenticeship information, helping her understand what each option involved.
Next steps
Ashlei has since applied and been accepted onto a Level 3 BTEC in aerospace engineering course at college.
She said, “I’m feeling a lot more confident now. I feel like I’ve got a clear plan.”
Alongside college, Ashlei plans to apply for aerospace apprenticeships when applications open. She has already attended an apprenticeship information event at the Careers Wales Centre in Cwmbran.
Although she applied for an apprenticeship previously and was not successful at the time, she remains positive and motivated about future opportunities.
She said, “I'm looking to apply for more apprenticeships when the applications come out. So fingers crossed for that!”
Advice to other young people
Ashlei wants other young people who are worried about their results to know that it’s okay not to have everything figured out straight away.
Ashlei said, “Don’t worry at all. You’ve got plenty of time. I only figured out what I wanted to do in the last few months.
“There are people out there to support you, and that really helps.”
If you would like to explore your interests and opportunities with a careers adviser, please contact us today.
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