What does it take to turn something you love into a job?

Some people build careers around things they love doing. But what does it actually take to make that work - and what's the gap between the fun part and the reality?

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 L5, L11
  • PSHE Association KS4 codes L8
  • Gatsby Benchmark 5

1. Before you start

Think about the following:

  • If you could turn something you love doing into a job - a sport, a hobby, an activity - what would it be? What do you think your working day would actually look like?
  • How much of your day do you think would be the fun part, and how much would be everything else?

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:

  • What do you spend most of your time doing at work?
  • What does a typical day look like for you?
  • What's the best thing about your job?
  • What's the hardest part of your job?
v0024 square

Yinka Thomas - BMX Stunt Athlete & Coach

Yinka is a professional BMX flatland rider and coach based in East London. He performs stunt shows and runs BMX workshops for children - including young people with social and emotional needs. He's the only company offering BMX flatland coaching in and around London.

While watching the video, listen for the following:

  • What does Yinka say is the best thing about his job - and what's the hardest?
  • How did Yinka end up in the area that happened to be the UK hub for BMX flatland?
v0025 square

Matt George - Coasteering Guide

Matt owns an outdoor adventure business in Cornwall offering coasteering and rock climbing. He spent years playing music in bands in London before moving back to Cornwall and spotting a gap nobody was filling. Most of the time his job doesn't feel like work - but the reality behind the scenes is different.

While watching the video, listen for the following:

  • What does Matt say is the hidden part of his job that people don't see?
  • What does he say about how he ended up doing this - was it planned?

3. Reflect and discuss

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

  • What surprised you most about the gap between the fun part of this person's job and the reality of making it work?

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

  • Both Yinka and Matt say the best part of their job is doing the activity they love. But both also talk about admin, paperwork, bookings, and logistics behind the scenes. If you turned something you love into a job, would the behind-the-scenes work put you off - or is it a trade-off worth making?
  • Neither Yinka nor Matt planned to end up where they are. Yinka's mum moved him to the right area by chance. Matt spotted a gap after his music career ran its course. What does that tell you about how careers like these actually happen?
  • Both of these jobs are physical, seasonal, and don't follow a nine-to-five pattern. What kind of person do you think these working conditions suit - and what would you find exciting or difficult about them?