What do you do when things don't go to plan?

Setbacks, disappointments, and things not working out are part of every career. In this activity you'll hear from four people who faced them - and what they learned about keeping going.

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

  • During a lesson - 30 minutes. Students work in pairs and then share their reflections with the rest of the class.
  • During tutor time - 20 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 H2, H9, L9
  • PSHE Association KS4 codes H2, L5
  • Gatsby Benchmark 5

1. Before you start

Think about the following:

  • Think of a time when something didn't go the way you expected - a test, a competition, a plan you'd made. How did you react? Did you try again, try something different, or give up?

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

2. Watch the videos

Watch the following section for each video:

  • What advice do you wish you'd had when you were younger?
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Benjamin Ella - Ballet Dancer & Choreographer

Benjamin is a soloist at the Royal Ballet. He faced a serious injury early in his career that kept coming back, and looking back he says he gave into discouragement too easily when things went wrong.

While watching the video, listen for the following:

  • What does Benjamin say setbacks are actually there to do?
  • What does he mean by "trust the process"?
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Anna Benson - Creative Producer

Anna is a creative producer at an agency in Stockholm. She didn't know what she wanted to do, started one course and left it, and eventually stumbled into a career she didn't know existed.

While watching the video, listen for the following:

  • What does Anna say about learning what you don't want?
  • Why does she say you shouldn't be "scared about having everything figured out"?
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Tim Atkin - Aviation Safety Investigator

Tim is a Flight Lieutenant in the RAF who investigates aviation incidents. He originally joined the Royal Navy to fly helicopters - but it didn't work out. He retrained, transferred services, and found a career he loves.

While watching the video, listen for the following:

  • What does Tim say about putting pressure on yourself to know what you want to do?
  • What does he say is "the bravest thing you can do"?
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Roma Shanmugam - Primary Teacher

Roma is a maths specialist and tutor who changed careers from chartered accountancy to teaching. Her advice isn't about career setbacks - it's about how to think about outcomes you can't control.

While watching the video, listen for the following:

  • What does Roma say you should focus on instead of results?
  • Why does she say this is a "mentally healthier way to live"?

3. Reflect and discuss

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

  • Which person's advice do you find most useful for where you are right now - and why?

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

  • Benjamin says setbacks are "preparation to jump even further forward." Anna says part of the journey is learning what you don't want. Tim says sometimes the bravest thing is to change direction. Roma says focus on your actions, not the results. Are these four pieces of advice saying the same thing in different ways, or are they genuinely different?
  • Some of this advice is about pushing through when things get hard. Some of it is about knowing when to change direction. How do you know which one you should do? What helps you tell the difference between something that's worth persisting with and something you should walk away from?
  • Roma says we take too much credit when things go well and too much blame when they don't. Do you agree? How would thinking that way change how you deal with setbacks?