TRUDY MORRIS: Taking your own route to success – whatever your grades
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As school pupils digest their exam results, Trudy Morris, chief executive of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, tells us that there is #NoWrongPath
It’s hard to believe it is late summer already and once again hundreds of teenagers across the nation have received their exam results.
To coincide with the day when the Scottish Qualifications Authority notifies students of their grades, Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) has for several years run a national campaign called #NoWrongPath.
The #NoWrongPath social media campaign aims to inspire and reassure young people who may be disappointed with their results by highlighting the cases of people in interesting and important jobs across a range of sectors who have not taken conventional paths to reach their goal.
The campaign’s key message is that exams are not the be all and end all and that your options need not diminish because you didn’t get the desired grades. #NoWrongPath shows young people that, whatever their grades, they are not necessarily the key to unlocking future success and that there are myriad options available to them.
As hosts of DYW North Highland, Caithness Chamber of Commerce is passionate about helping young people achieve their potential. Indeed, we have just welcomed back our 12 young adults from their Sail Training Shetland experience with the Tall Ships Races. These placements were made possible through sponsorship from DYW North Highland, Pentland Floating Offshore Wind and Scrabster Harbour.
The Sail Training initiative is designed to inspire self-confidence and teamwork, enabling participants to confront many demanding challenges, both physical and emotional. The skills and attributes achieved on board are designed to enhance their employability skills through hands-on learning and real-life experience.
Skills are something we learn through experience and that we can apply to things we do. We might pick these up at school, work, during activities, by spending time with our family and friends, or initiatives like the Sail Training.
By all accounts, the feedback received from the young people and their parents is that the Sail Training delivered just that.
So, my advice to young people is grasp every opportunity available to build your confidence and learn new skills. Qualifications are not the be and end all. There are many other opportunities to build your skills and routes to employment.
Get in touch with DYW North Highland to find out how. Email skills@caithnesschamber.com or phone 01847 890076 and ask for the DYW team.
