Is it ever too late to change direction?

Some people find their path early. Others take detours, go back, or start again. In this activity you'll hear from three people who changed direction - and why that turned out to be a good thing.

This activity is designed to be flexible and can be used as follows:

  • During a lesson - 35 minutes. Students work in pairs and then share their reflections with the rest of the class.
  • During tutor time - 25 minutes. Students watch the videos independently and then discuss the topics together.
  • As homework - Students watch the videos on their own and complete the reflections at their own pace.

This activity supports the following frameworks:

  • PSHE Association KS3 codes L7, L8, L9
  • PSHE Association KS4 codes L4, L5, L6
  • Gatsby Benchmark 5

1. Before you start

Think about the following:

  • Do you ever worry about making the wrong choice - the wrong subjects, the wrong course, the wrong job? What would happen if you did?
  • Do you think changing direction is a setback, or can it be a step forward?

If you're working with a partner or team, share and compare your thoughts before continuing.

2. Watch the videos

Watch the following sections for each video:

  • How did you find your way into this job?
  • How did your education help along the way?
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Anna Middleton - Dental Hygienist & Therapist

Anna's first career was in sound engineering. She changed direction completely, trained as a dental nurse, and then discovered dental hygiene through a colleague who inspired her to go to university at 26 - relying on school grades from a decade earlier.

While watching the video, listen for the following:

  • How did Anna use her existing qualifications to strengthen her university application years later?
  • What does Anna say about learning never stopping?
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Andy Powell - Geologist

Andy studied politics and history at A-level because that's what interested him at the time. When he later decided to pursue geology, he had to go back and redo his chemistry and biology A-levels.

While watching the video, listen for the following:

  • Why didn't Andy study science A-levels the first time round?
  • What does Andy say about it being "never too late"?
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Olivia Pountney - Startup Co-founder

Olivia nearly failed art at school and lost confidence in her creative abilities. She left school at 18, worked different jobs for years, and then came back to jewellery design at 25. In her second year at university, she won a national design prize.

While watching the video, listen for the following:

  • What does Olivia say happened between leaving school and going to university - and why was that gap actually useful?
  • What moment gave Olivia her confidence back?

3. Reflect and discuss

First, add a personal reflection for each video based on the following:

  • What is one thing from this person's story that changed how you think about making the "wrong" choice?

Next, compare what you noticed across all three videos and discuss with your partner or group:

  • Anna changed careers completely. Andy went back and redid his A-levels. Olivia returned to the thing she'd nearly failed at. What do these three different types of "changing direction" have in common?
  • All three people say the time they spent doing something else - whether it was work experience, different jobs, or just growing up - actually helped them when they came back. Why do you think detours can sometimes be more valuable than going straight?
  • If you knew you could change direction at any point in your life, would that make you more or less worried about the choices you're making now? Why?