Do what you want to do, not what they think you should do

As a teenager, there’s nothing worse than being told what you can and can’t do.

I know my parents only wanted what was best for me, but after being endlessly told that University was the best (and only) option for me, I decided that I wouldn’t be dragged through the following three years kicking and screaming.

I needed to take my life into my own hands and decide what I wanted to do, not what everyone else wanted me to do.

Apprenticeships are (wrongly) considered to be a last resort for a career and I can assure you there will be people that turn their noses up, assuming you didn’t quite ‘make the grade’.

But this shouldn’t be the case anymore.

Don’t take comfort in the idea that you’ll be guaranteed a full time job with your degree. This is NOT the case anymore, so why should apprenticeships be considered as a drop out thing?

Who said that university was the only way young adults can have a great lifestyle? Whoever it was, I disagree!

My company is located within Manchester city centre, I get paid a competitive salary and I have my weekends to do whatever I please. Having a full time job and the qualification I am working towards, I feel like I have stability. I can work my way up the company I am in and not worry about the debt of university.

The best part of an apprenticeship is that it opens doors, and helps you gain on the job experience whilst earning. Hey, if you don’t enjoy it, you can still go to university afterwards. So what have you got to lose?

The greatest part about being young like us is that we can afford to take massive chances – we have less to lose, no responsibilities and endless options. Don’t think you’ll be alone in the process either; you have The Juice Academy team supporting you 24/7.

If your parents are anything like mine, you’ll have a rough time trying to convince them that university isn’t what you want to do, and that an apprenticeship is the route you want to take. But now they couldn’t be prouder – they’re constantly showing all their friends and the rest of the family my business cards as though it was a family photo!

If I could give you some advice as a peer, it would be this – don’t do something because everyone else wants you to, or because it’s just the easy way, because you won’t be happy.

In life, I’ve learnt you have to do what you really, really want to do, even if it (and it will) scares the hell out of you.