In June-July 2023 I sat my GCSEs with no idea what I wanted to do with them or where I wanted to go. This massively effected my motivation as there was nothing I was working towards or an end goal which gave it meaning. I wasn’t as bothered about doing the best I could, as I should’ve been.
Throughout primary school, up until year eight, I always really enjoyed school and tried as hard as I could to do well. Then COVID-19 hit, affecting most of my year 8 and partially my year 9, This is where my love for school went completely downhill. Whether it was because I had got so used to being at home and trying to teach myself, or because being inside a bubble with the same four people for so long gave me, as well as many others, more social anxiety than I had realised, I am still not completely sure. However, after spending months and months wanting to be back with my friends and in a real classroom, I completely hated it and had near to no idea how or where to pick back up.
I was quite ill for a while with long COVID which took another big chunk out of a school term, reducing my motivation more and more. I found myself going home more frequently than I was completing full days. All of this I believe is a key factor as to why my exams weren’t as successful as they should’ve and could’ve been, on top of the fact I didn’t work as hard as I know I was capable of.
Revision was a big struggle for me, and I always found myself just copying notes and reading out flashcards that went in one ear and out of the other. Although this may work for some, it’s very important you allow yourself to try lots of methods, finding one that works best for you. This could be asking someone else to read out questions for you to answer, mind-maps or quizzing yourself online. Don’t let yourself forget how resources are available now just because one way of learning hasn’t worked for you, this is one of my biggest regrets.
College was the only thing I had my mind set on from the start of Year 11. This was because in my mind it was the easy option, fun and where I would have the most freedom. I went to a few open days and chose one with the course that seemed the most interesting to me, Social Science. For this I just needed to pass English and Maths, however there were ways around this, such as retaking a subject during college, so in my mind it was a safe and comfortable option.
Personally, during exam season, I didn’t feel much anxiety except from when I went into my first exam, however I know lots of people who did. This is because they were aiming to do well in comparison to me, who as I previously said, wasn’t as focussed and motivated as I should’ve been. A few nerves are always a good thing as it shows you care and is not something to worry about. Even leading up to results day I did not really think too much into anything. Then results day came around and I did much worse than I thought I would and should have done in comparison to what I personally was capable of. Although I passed Maths, I didn’t pass my English Language exam and didn’t do too well in most of my chosen subjects either, I knew I could still go to college, but I was much more disappointed in myself than I let on.
The end of Summer rolled around quickly, college started, and I enjoyed the first few weeks, the freedom, how different it was from school and meeting lots of new people. Plus, I was able to take lessons there to retake my English exam. Unfortunately, soon I realised it was not for me, I was becoming more and more lazy. There were not really any consequences for not going in as you get treated a lot more like adults there, so staying at home seemed much more fun, and the travel and food costs were quite expensive with it being an hour and a half bus ride away from me. After about a month I decided to leave college and find something else to do.
I began to feel a little bit lost which then prompted me to pull myself together and find something I enjoyed and that was worth my time. That’s when I began looking into apprenticeships, this was much harder than I originally assumed due to still not completing my English language exam. Fortunately, I began speaking to my Nan one day about what I was looking for and wanting to do – this then led to my Great Auntie Michelle (who is now also my boss) contacting me about starting an apprenticeship at her business Purple Pitch PR. Although I had no previous experience and not much knowledge, for the first time in a while I became genuinely interested in something, leading her to come round with lots of booklets to read through and me going into the office to get a feel of what it is really like. Straight away I became very sure it was exactly what I needed, a new push, something to work hard towards and a challenge.
Throughout the last 10 months, I have learnt more than I could’ve imagined with an enormous range of amazing experiences, from conferences, meeting many new peoples and helping plan these important events, to successfully completing my English exam, writing blogs, press releases and learning how to pitch while enjoying every single moment. My colleagues (who are both my great auntie and auntie making us not only a wonderful team but a family business), have pushed me to be the best I can and I have grown in confidence vast amounts.
If you had told me last September this is what I would now be doing, I would not have believed it. My confidence in myself and motivation was the lowest it had been, and I had no idea how to fix it. This is a prime example of whatever happens during your exams and whatever the outcome is, it doesn’t determine the rest of your life. Yes, there is a lot I could’ve done differently during my exam season, and I do believe I should’ve tried harder just so I know I did the best I could, but your future doesn’t rely on that one piece of paper. If you slip up or have a big mind blank, don’t work yourself up and don’t give up, your grades will not and do not define you! There are many options out there, you just need to go and look.
The PRCA delivers the Level 4 PR & Communications Assistant apprenticeship standard which gives individuals the opportunity to work for a real PR agency/team, receive industry training, and earn a salary whilst gaining valuable workplace skills and experience. Practical in nature, PR Apprentices are placed in the workplace and complete on-the-job training, progressing through clear stages of development and a formal assessment. Find out more about the PRCA Apprenticeship programme or Speak to the Team.