Why life isn't over when things don't go exactly as planned. (Uni)

I just wanted to make this post because I know how easy it is to spiral and panic about your future, so I thought I'd share my story. I hope this helps someone feel better if you're stressed about results day or unsure if you made the right decision.

A year ago I had sat all of my A-Levels, and due to my medical condition flaring up as I could no longer get my meds, I did worse than I should have. My firm choice was a Russell Group uni for computer science, entry requirements AAB (contextual from A*AA), come results day and I had achieved A*BC. Not bad grades at all imo, but not what I needed (predicted A*AB). The uni took me anyway, and I was so so so happy, I was always very confident that uni was the path for me.

I didn't apply to any apprenticeships and thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was very wrong. About 3/4 through Semester 1, I realised how drained I was and I was unsure as to whether I could continue doing this for the next 4 years, which was quite a shock to me tbh because I've always been a "good" student and been motivated. Maybe the uni I attended were to blame for the way they ran the course, or maybe I just didn't have as much passion for computer science as I thought I did, it could have also been me still recovering from losing my meds (as I was still struggling during sem1) - regardless of this I knew I had to drop out.

I decided I had to stick out the rest of the year (SFE :frown:

), I ultimately failed it, but I was prioritising apprenticeship applications and my mental health. As a backup I re-applied for university to study cybersecurity (thinking back I should've studied this from the get-go as this was 4/5 of my options, I only firmed comp sci because the uni was more "prestigious" and it seemed "better" to have a compsci degree). I also managed to get into an amazing cybersecurity programme which runs alongside university, which I was rejected for in the previous year, so whether or not I got an apprenticeship or not my options were very good.

So.. fast forward to now, and I got an apprenticeship!! (Level 4, so maybe failing first year was a blessing in disguise or I wouldn't have been eligible???) It's at a top company with amazing career progression and I am so excited to start!! So yeah, here's your sign to just keep going, an old teacher once said to me that "Things that are meant for you won't miss you" and it's that advice that kept me sane during the tough times tbh.

If anyone has any questions then feel free to ask!

Reply 1

Nathanielle_

Yeah, prioritzing your mental health and making smart career choices is much more important to a bright future, then battling through and "being disciplined" and all those fake narratives hindering you, from making the choices the thread starter did.