Life After A Levels

In June 2016 I finished the last of my A levels, which has been a crazy two years! I have been able to do the subjects I love and have leant so many new skills and developed myself in many different ways. Although it has been stressful to say the least, I have really appreciated my two years at college and also the personal journey I have been on. I have really developed myself in completing my work and setting out to do the best I know I can do, even if I don't necessarily have the skills, I have pushed myself into learning everything I can, no matter how many times I fail.

In September 2016 I was planning on starting a year long Art Foundation Diploma because honestly I didn't know what I wanted to do after I finished my two years of A levels. I know I haven't wanted to go to university for a while now due to the fees, the length of time and the fact that I want to get into the working world in the industry, even if that means starting from the bottom and having to work three years, (like a degree) to get to the same place, except I won't be in debt. I had my interview for the foundation degree back in March this year and I got accepted for the course which was great apart from the fact I had to fund the course myself, which I knew about since I am over 18. After I had the interview I asked the teacher roughly how much it was that had to pay for the course, and she said £1500 Max. Which wasn't ideal, but it meant that I had time over the summer break to save up and have the money ready to pay in full in September. A few months later I was getting worried that I hadn't heard anything about the finances I would be paying, so I sent an email and got notified the real amount by said person who deals with the college's finances that the Foundation Degree would in fact cost £4.000! Now £4,000 is indeed a lot more than just £1500. So this completely through me off the idea of it at all, as I had no idea what I was going to do now, or if I was going to do it at all! The whole reason for doing it was to be able to give me a better qualification to get into a job after college instead of a UNI degree but if I want an apprenticeship shall I just apply for it anyway regardless? So after that I spent a lot of time thinking and talking to people about the situation and my feelings became stronger that going back to college was really not what I wanted at all! I really don't want to be just studying any more especially for the sake of £4,000. I really have got a passion now to do something new and get going into the career and industry I want to be apart of! So after I got back from my holiday I have been applying for apprenticeships in Fashion design and fashion assisting. I am keeping optimistic about things but not expecting anything because I know if its meant to happen it will and at the right time. I've said to myself that if nothing comes up in this next month then I will start working whilst still applying for jobs in Fashion because this is something I really want and I'm not prepared to give up on it.

I am picking up my A level results on the 19th of this month which of course I am absolutely terrified about, but I know I tried my best this year and there's really nothing more I could have done, so i'm going to be happy with my results what ever I get. I hope anyone who's getting their A level results all the luck in the world and as long as you've done your best, that's all you can do! x