• Question: If there was any advice you could've given yourself when you were in year 9, what would it have been?

    Asked by Sophie E to Philly, Nicola, Jo & Lucy, Jamie, Gail, Tuxford, Amanda, Adil on 6 Mar 2018. This question was also asked by EllieFogg_1103.
    • Photo: Jamie Hynes

      Jamie Hynes answered on 6 Mar 2018:

      I love this question Sophie! It’s one I use with patients quite alot as it’s a really clever way to help see the problem in a different way!
      Great questions deserve honest answers.
      I would say: “Jamie, don’t worry about dropping Art from your options for GCSEs, you’ll find a way to keep doing your drawing in your future career, that’ll go so well you’ll be a published illustrator! Keep singing and drawing, it’ll help you through next year when your parents split up. It’s going to be hard but you’ll be OK. You may not feel particularly strong but the experience will help you understand the pain others go through when you’ll go on to help people in your career.”
      And I’d probably add “PS Everton are going to win the FA Cup soon, enjoy the moment”

    • Photo: Catherine Harrison

      Catherine Harrison answered on 6 Mar 2018:

      What an inspired question! I wish I could remember Year 9! It’s a rather long time ago for me! I am ashamed to admit it, but I smoked cigarettes for a few years when I was 16 until I was 23. It is the only regret I have in my whole life now! I would definitely have advised myself not to do that! I would also advise myself to keep active, eat healthily, give up sugar and exercise regularly. I got too fat when I was at university and have since struggled to maintain a normal weight! Sorry if that’s a boring answer!

    • Photo: Gail Allsopp

      Gail Allsopp answered on 6 Mar 2018:

      ‘Believe in yourself. You are as good as everyone else’.
      I grew up in a relatively poor area and always felt second best to those at the better schools and private schools. Schools do give opportunity but it is YOU who has to do the work and make your dreams happen.

    • Photo: Philippa Horner

      Philippa Horner answered on 7 Mar 2018:

      This is a great question and has really made me think!

      It’s difficult to remember exactly what was going through my head when I was in year 9 but my biggest struggle at the time was probably a few people at my school being unpleasant to some of my friends and I. This caused me to have doubts about myself and my abilities and gave my confidence quite a knock. It’s hard when you are that age to see just how insignificant what these people are saying is, but my advice to myself would probably be “surround yourself with people that make you feel happy and positive and if you have a passion or a dream, fight as hard as you can to achieve it and the chances are you will.” Also I would encourage everyone to have a hobby or activity that they pursue outside of school work to give your life fun and variety because you always need more than your academic work to keep you sane!

    • Photo: Amanda Henchliffe

      Amanda Henchliffe answered on 9 Mar 2018:

      Work harder now try to gain as much advice /information for your chosen career including all the options to work towards but possibly in a general kind of way ..eg if you have a leaning towards health and sciences try and maximise your learning here. Not to restrict you ..good to have lots of options.. but a good foundation now may save catch up later

    • Photo: Adil Rashid

      Adil Rashid answered on 10 Mar 2018:

      If you have a passion for something, go for it! With hard work you can achieve whatever you set your mind to. At the same time make sure you enjoy yourself and do the things that make you happy.

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