Across Wales today, thousands of young people will be opening their GCSE results and wondering what comes next – I remember feeling exactly the same.
A few years ago, I was struggling with my mental health, withdrawing from education and unsure what my future looked like. Today, I’ve completed my first year at the London School of Economics studying History and Politics with a 2:1, I’m a Young Ambassador for The King’s Trust and I’m more excited about the future than ever.
During the pandemic, my family moved home, I lost contact with school and friends, and my mental health deteriorated. I struggled with anxiety, experienced thoughts of self-harm, and after being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2020, I withdrew further from social situations and education.
University did not feel like an obvious destination – getting through the next day was hard enough.
The turning point came when a former teacher referred me to Milestones Academy, a pupil referral unit supporting young people who are struggling with school. Through Milestones, I joined The King’s Trust’s Achieve programme, which helped me rebuild confidence, develop skills and find a path back into learning.
At first, I was nervous and reluctant to socialise – team-building activities pushed me outside my comfort zone. But in a safer environment, with support from people who understood that progress can look different for every young person, I began to open up.
I started speaking to people again. I made friends, learned new skills, such as autism awareness work, and began to see myself as someone with options.
With that support, I completed my GCSEs, a BTEC and a King’s Trust qualification. More importantly, I rediscovered the value of learning.
I’ve been able to do more than I could imagine with the correct support. I never thought I’d be this determined to do anything in life – I value learning now more than ever and I understand the importance of it.
That’s why getting a 2:1 in my first year at LSE means so much to me. It isn’t just about university grades. It’s a reminder of how far I’ve come from the young person who once felt disconnected from education altogether.
Grades matter, and today will rightly be a proud moment for many young people. But grades are not the whole story. They do not capture the barriers a young person has faced, the confidence they have had to rebuild, or the support that may help them take their next step.
For some, the path will be sixth form. For others, it will be college, apprenticeships, training, work or a more flexible route back into education. My story shows why those routes matter. I went from struggling to engage with education to completing college, studying at the London School of Economics, becoming a Young Ambassador for The King’s Trust and using my experiences to help inspire other young people across Wales. None of that felt possible when I was sitting my GCSEs.
My success is the result of persistence, patience and the right support at the right time.
It is also a reminder that young people should not be written off because their education has been interrupted, because they need extra support, or because their confidence has been knocked.
Since then, I’ve been honoured with The King’s Trust Ascential Education Award, met His Majesty The King and had the opportunity to share my story nationally. But what I’m most proud of is being able to use my experiences to support other young people and show that setbacks don’t have to define your future.
I want young people to know that one set of results doesn’t define you. The path you take afterwards matters just as much. With the right support, hard work and determination, you can achieve things that feel impossible right now.
