By Zara M, Chloe R, Priya B – Year 10 Journalist Leads

Last Tuesday, Year 10 took part in a Futures Day organised by Ms Postlethwaite, as a part of  Enrichment Week. We heard from guest speakers including NHEHS alumna Alice ter Haar, founder of Badass Unicorn, who spoke about discovering our strengths and potential and the importance of self-empowerment for our futures. Her confidence and relatability were really inviting and her anecdotes about finding her passion were very inspiring. 

We also had a talk from NHEHS alumna Dr Sara Kayat, an NHS GP who is also a resident doctor on ITV’s This Morning who enlightened us with stories about working in the healthcare industry as well what it’s like being on live TV. She told us all about her experience of being at medical school, and the reasoning behind her choice to specialise in General Practice medicine, as well as what it was like to star on Bear Grylls’ Celebrity Island. 

In addition to hearing from the fascinating NHEHS alumnae, we also heard from Business Advisor to BP, Alicia Whittle, who spoke to us on the importance of networking and strategies to improve confidence and articulation. Hearing from such a pioneering woman in this industry was very inspiring and pushed us to believe we too could break the glass ceiling! 

We also took part in an AI workshop led by Ms Postlethwaite where we looked at the dangers of deepfakes, the ethics of AI, gained awareness on what happens to our personal data, as well as thinking about the more general advantages and disadvantages to AI in a society where digital literacy and AI awareness is increasingly more important in the workplace. 

One idea that the speakers highlighted was the concept of a nonlinear career path. This was something we had not heard much about before, and it reassured us that discovering your passion in work is not always a straightforward journey. Instead, it can be more like a looping path, where you have the freedom to change direction, adapt, and discover new interests as you grow. It is easy to decide what you want your future to look like in Year 7, but it is important to stay curious, be adventurous, and not be afraid to change your plans along the way. 

Overall, the careers day was an extremely valuable and inspiring experience. It introduced us to a range of career opportunities while also helping us understand important workplace skills, such as using and managing AI effectively. The talks gave us greater confidence when considering our future careers and A Level choices, showing us practical steps we can take now, like gaining work experience. The day made future decisions feel more manageable and motivated us to explore different possibilities. The smart dress code also gave us an insight into the professional world. Overall, it was a fantastic day filled with advice, support, and inspiration from the speakers.