From Doubt to Discovery: Why an Apprenticeship Was the Right Path for Me

Picture it. You’ve finished college. You’ve just turned 18, and the world suddenly feels so big and overwhelming, but decisions need to be made. University? Work? Travel? I faced the same questions. What to do now?

I was 16 when I got my Dyslexia diagnosis. I went through through the entirety of my years at primary school and secondary school having absolutely idea why I felt so different. Fast forward to 2024, and I also get my ADHD diagnosis. Everything finally makes sense!

I had spent my entire school life feeling different but not knowing why. In 2024, I was also diagnosed with ADHD—finally, everything made sense! The relief was immense, but it also came with sadness about my education.  

I love learning. My favourite part of my day is reading a book, or watching a documentary, or googling the most useless, niche facts. I loved learning at school, but I always knew the traditional format of schooling didn’t suit me. I thrived on creativity, flexibility, and independent study, yet struggled with exams and long classroom hours. Sitting still for two hours felt like I might explode.

Despite my passion for the subjects, I studied at A-Level, the structured lessons and essay formats felt restrictive. My attendance dropped. I would get the bus into town, with the intention of going into college, but the dread of wasting 5 hours of my time knowing I wouldn’t absorb any information just felt all to overwhelming.

I would instead go to café and self-teach myself the whole syllabus. I know, this isn’t something I would recommend, but it was the only thing that worked for me.

Despite being a high achiever, when results day arrived, I decided to take a gap year before applying for university (spoiler, this never ended up happening).  Instead, I worked in hospitality, discovering a love for events planning and marketing. For the first time, I felt like I was doing something that truly suited me.

The year 2020 rolls in, so we know what happened next. Covid strikes. Like so many people, I lost my job and was thrown back out into a scary pit of the unknown. I had got used to a routine that worked for me. A routine that gave me the dopamine hit I needed, whilst also remaining productive and having a great social life. Suddenly none of that existed anymore.

So… What next (AGAIN!)?

I wanted a fresh start. I wanted to channel all the creativity that I knew I was capable of into something that I could turn into a career. After hours and hours of researching, between dalgona coffees, doom scrolling on TikTok and virtual quizzes with friends I struck gold: an apprenticeship. At school, it was always university that was pushed, so I had no idea creative apprenticeships even existed.

I spent the next year completing my Level 3 Apprenticeship in Content Production with JGA Group, while working at the National Lottery Community Fund. I was learning and doing what I loved- video editing, writing, graphic design, and web development- all while getting paid!

For a neurodivergent young adult like me, an apprenticeship was the perfect blend of structured support and independent creativity. Instead of rigid syllabuses and exams, we had an ‘end point assessment’- creative tasks and a presentation that played to our strengths rather than catching us out. I even received dyslexia coaching support through Genius Within (yep, that’s how I first discovered GW).

Five years into my marketing career, I’m 25, newly diagnosed with ADHD and a Tic Disorder, and as dyslexic as ever- but happier than ever. Sometimes, doubt obviously creeps in. Should I have gone to university? Have I disadvantaged myself? But then I remember the skills I gained from my apprenticeship that only on-the-job experience can teach.

Everyone is different, so my story may not make sense to you, and that’s absolutely okay. Whether you’re neurodivergent or neurotypical, know that there are many ways to build a successful career beyond the ‘traditional’ route. For me, taking the risk on an apprenticeship was the best decision I ever made.

Sometimes you have got to take the risk, or you lose the chance!