I feel so much for the youth of today and no more so this year when we are going through an unprecedented year at the mercy of a global pandemic the likes of which we have never seen before in our lifetimes. As we come to student A level results this year which is the decisive on which University they get into or what course they take I can’t help but think their generation has been brought up to believe they must go to University if they are going to make anything of their life in the future.

I left school in 1981 I was an under achiever but back then we did our best we didn’t challenge the system we were a generation of hard workers so if we didn’t do well in exams we had to get out into the work place and graft. We had more than two hundred students in our school year and I would say I could count on one hand how many of those went on to University.

I grafted through school and my weeks work experience so I started my first job as a travel agent at Pickfords Travel (where I did my work experience) the day after I took my last O Level exam. All thanks to the very kind Manager there who has always said that back then I was like a little mouse but she saw something in me and just took a chance on me. I will be forever grateful because she encouraged me to do things I never thought I could or would do and by doing that she helped me to shape the woman I have become today – I don’t think I ever told her I failed my geography O level – but as she is still my bestest friend today she will no doubt know that when she reads this.

I had no qualifications to speak of but I became the youngest manager within the Pickfords Travel Group by the age of 22. I went on to do other things career wise and always managed to rise to the top in whatever field I worked in. I’m proud of where my career has taken me and what I have achieved so far.

The focus today for our youth has been so much on the fact that University is the only option to have a great career/life whilst accruing large debts and that debt deters them from reaching their full career potential because earn too much they’ll have to pay it back. Actually all young people with great minds and ambition out there please don’t think University is the only way to achieve your goals – hard work and determination doing something you love for a living is really what it takes and you will if you’re ambitious enough make your fortune – that might be money rich or if like me you’ll be even luckier and be more life rich.