Jamie the ASDAN Champion: exploring future work pathways and discovering strengths

Our latest ASDAN Champion is Jamie, a Year 13 learner at James Rennie Sixth Form College, who is currently working towards an Entry 3 Employability qualification. 

As part of the Career Exploration unit, Jamie and his classmates have been visiting a range of workplaces in their local area. The unit gives learners the opportunity to explore different careers, meet people in a variety of roles and experience real working environments. 

So far, the group has visited a Castle, a Café, a Hotel, Forest Centre Parcs and Wickes, where they spoke to staff about their jobs and had the chance to try some of the tasks involved.

Learning through real experiences: 

During the visits, Jamie showed great enthusiasm for learning about different careers and workplaces. He actively engaged with employers, asking thoughtful questions about their roles and career journeys. 

Jamie confidently spoke with unfamiliar people, maintaining good eye contact during conversations and showing genuine interest in the people he met. He particularly enjoyed finding out about different career paths and having the opportunity to try out a range of job tasks during the visits. 

Developing skills for life: 

Through the Career Exploration unit, Jamie has developed valuable skills that will support him in life beyond school. Visiting different workplaces has helped him strengthen his communication skills, build confidence when interacting with new people and gain a deeper understanding of the world of work. 

Experiencing a variety of roles has also encouraged Jamie’s self-awareness, to reflect on his own strengths and qualities, helping him think about the types of jobs he may enjoy in the future and how his skills could be applied in the workplace. 

Jamie’s teacher, Miss Matwiejczyk, shared her pride in his achievements: 

“I am extremely proud of Jamie accessing different working environments, learning about them and being able to reflect on the visits. This allows him not only develop his knowledge about the world around him but also think about his skills and qualities that will allow him to find the job he likes.” 

Jamie’s journey reflects what the ASDAN Champion initiative is all about: recognising learners who embrace opportunities, develop essential life skills and make a positive difference in their school and community.