What do you do now?
I am currently pursuing a career as a paramedic. 
I left school at the end of Sixth Form to join the army. Although I initially joined to be a helicopter pilot working medical evacuation and aerial support, I was told that wasn’t an option for me at the time I joined. Upon completion of my training, I moved into my unit where I spent the next nine months honing my skills and qualifying as a marksman and section medic. I picked up a calf injury that put me out of action, and was medically discharged due to injury in 2022. I mentally struggled for a while, as I had just lost a career I was extremely passionate about.
After a few weeks of not being in the best way, physically and mentally, I decided it was time to dig my way out of the pit I was in. Once I was physically able, I got a job working behind a bar in Skipton. During my nine months working there, I became one of the bar managers. This helped me hone my leadership skills and abilities to problem solve quickly and under pressure.
I enjoyed my time at the bar, but I wanted a career that would challenge me to be at the top of my game. I decided that a career helping people in need would challenge me every day, so pursued a career as a paramedic. I thought having a background as a section medic would play to my advantage, and it did. I contacted a local company that offered an in-house apprenticeship style course and I’ve now been working for them for three months. I’ve learned so much about my chosen path, the good and the bad, which has only strengthened my want to pursue a career as a paramedic and push myself.
The part of my job I love the most is that no two days are the same. I may pick up and deal with the same people, but it is always a different experience.
What advice would you give your 17-year-old self?
Don’t expect everything to run smoothly. There will be bumps in the road and some of them may force you to take a different route.
But as long as you have the drive to achieve what you want to do, and do all of the extra work to get there, you will.
What are you most proud of?
Even though I’ve been knocked back in many ways, I still managed to pick myself up (with help) and find another career I am equally as passionate about.
