Lead by Michelle Whaite of the Transformation Trust, on behalf of Barclays, the workshop quickly engaged the students.
Overcoming challenges was a key theme of the session and Michelle explained why it’s important to overcome initial setbacks and not to simply to see them as ‘failure’, but an opportunity to learn.
High profile examples of people who have dealt with setbacks such as Michael Jordan were flagged up to show how perseverance leads to success. Individually, the Year 9 students then looked at themselves and identified challenges that they have ahead of them.
Some of the challenges the students had included:
- Talking to new people
- Getting good grades in their GCSEs
- Becoming a footballer
- Getting a summer job
- Becoming a professional swimmer
- Becoming an architect
- Being confident in a job interview
- Learning how to drive
- Raise money for school trip to Spain
- To get A grades in GCSEs
- To get better at maths
- Overcome fear of heights
- Get a good job
- Get into the college and university of choice
- Pass Taekwondo exam
- Go to Loreto College
- Overcome fear of embarrassment
- Learn the Quran
- Learn a language
- Own a restaurant
The pupils then worked out a strategy for achieving their aims and overcoming fear of failure. They then fed back to the whole group. This took courage as public speaking is most people’s number one fear, but the learners acquitted themselves well and developed a new skill into the bargain.
Jess Lindsay of Barclays supported the event reflecting on her own career journey which helped the pupils make links between the challenges they face today and working life.
At the end of the session the pupils left better informed, with raised aspirations and increased resilience for the future.
Steve Leach
Careers Advisor