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i have been excluded from school multiple times, i have a criminal record and i only have less than one year left of school and i only have a few national 3s and 4s and not expected to get much more. i feel like whats the point of trying if i am not going to get job anyway or get into university. i am not excited or hopeful for my future. i want to be more hopeful and have looked at volunteering but i need references for that. it feels really unfair.
Sam
Hi there,
It can feel like your future is already decided when school hasn’t gone well, but that doesn’t mean things can’t change. There are still ways forward, even if they look different from what you expected.
Lots of young people feel stuck when they’re not getting qualifications or have faced exclusion. But there are other ways to work towards the future you want and build experience. It’s important to share your worries with the adults who are working with you, they’re there to support you and can help with things like college courses or training programs. You can also get support organisations like The Prince’s Trust.
Lots of volunteering opportunities do need references, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t take part in them. It can help to think about any adults who are supporting you, and whether they could give you a reference. If you’re struggling, it can also help to contact organisations you’re interested in directly to see what they recommend.
You’re not alone. The message boards can be a great place to hear how others have figured out what they would like to do in the future, and how they have found different opportunities to help get them there.
When the future is feeling too daunting, it can help to break things down. Remember, you don’t need to have everything sorted right away. Try to think about small goals for a month’s or even a week’s time, and start working towards those. Setting smaller goals can help to make the future feel more achievable.
It’s okay not to know exactly what you want yet. The important thing is to continue to look for opportunities that fit you well and to remember that there are different ways to get to where you want, and not everyone’s journey will look the same.
Take care,
Sam
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