Everyone can relate to the mixed feelings of nervousness and excitement on exam results day. Although many students will be delighted with their results, others will be disappointed, and might find themselves panicking about what to do next, especially if they now aren’t going to be accepted into their first-choice university.
Around 140,000 young people in Scotland received their results this week, and they’ll have been encouraged by a social media campaign aimed at showing the less traditional paths older people took to their current jobs.
Organized by DYW Glasgow, people used the hashtag #NoWrongPath to post pictures of themselves holding a handwritten sign showing what they did when they left school and what they’re doing now. Hundreds of people have gotten involved, from chefs to business founders and marketing managers. Here are some of our favorites, but you can browse the #NoWrongPath hashtag for more:
You dont have to get it right first time! Make your own path. Do what's right for you! You CAN do! #nowrongpath pic.twitter.com/y6AdarlWNU
— Lorraine Ross (@LorraineRoss20) August 8, 2017
#NoWrongPath on exam day. Here's my path, I might not be at school anymore but, I'm always learning. #resultsday @OfficialSYP pic.twitter.com/4IG4pzWCOm
— Jamie Dunlop (@SYPJamie) August 8, 2017
Here's @fredmacaulay showing off his path! Accountancy and Jurisprudence to Comedy... interesting! #NoWrongPath pic.twitter.com/BEv0D3Q6N4
— DYW Glasgow (@DYWGlasgow) August 8, 2017
Our CEO @LeaskGeoff shows that you can follow multiple routes to your ideal job! #nowrongpath @DYWGlasgow @DYWWest pic.twitter.com/yVpsrfCxRi
— YoungEnterpriseScot (@YE_Scotland) August 8, 2017
We roped our staff into #NoWrongPath and got some brilliant ones :-) pic.twitter.com/xnVOvh3HIO
— MuseumsGalleriesScot (@MuseumsGalScot) August 8, 2017
#nowrongpath @DYWICH pic.twitter.com/s7WHfhwMPl
— Tony Singh MBE (@McTSingh) August 8, 2017
#NoWrongPath is a great campaign for young people getting their #examresults
— DYW West Lothian (@DYWWestLothian) August 8, 2017
Thank you to Angela @ Lucerne Scotland Ltd for getting involved pic.twitter.com/25T8F5p8Or
Lord Provost @bolandeva illustrates her journey to becoming First Citizen #NoWrongPath. Always believe! #examresultsday. pic.twitter.com/iO1DzqkTC1
— Lord Provost Glasgow (@LordProvostGCC) August 8, 2017
It’s important to remember that your next steps after leaving school are just a point in the journey, not the end destination, and you shouldn’t feel disheartened if you don’t get the exam results you wanted. With many apprenticeships, internships and diplomas available (as well as the opportunity to go traveling on a gap year), university is by no means your only option after you leave school.
If you’re in the UK and have received your results, you can call UCAS’ Exam Results Helpline on 0808 100 8000 for advice on what to do next.
Main image credit: City of Stoke on Trent Sixth Form College
