What would you do if you weren't afraid?

Fear of judgement, fear of failure, fear of being different. In this activity you'll hear from four people who almost let fear stop them - and what happened when they didn't.

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 H1, H2, L9, L10
  • PSHE Association KS4 codes H2, L5
  • Gatsby Benchmark 5

1. Before you start

Think about the following:

  • Is there something you'd love to try but haven't because you're worried about what people might think, or afraid you might fail?
  • What's the worst that could actually happen?

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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Henrietta Davies - Helicopter Pilot

Henrietta is a captain on an air ambulance in Norfolk. She's one of only 36 female helicopter pilots in the UK out of about 1,400. Her advice is direct: you don't need to be the same as everybody else.

While watching the video, listen for the following:

  • What statistic does Henrietta share about female helicopter pilots in the UK?
  • What does she say about not needing to fit a particular profile?
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Mark Jarvis - Entertainment Presenter

Mark is an entertainment presenter who works across radio, video, and live events. Multiple people told him he should try presenting, but he kept putting it off. He says he was "guilty of" working hard on his craft but not putting himself out there - and wishes he'd been braver sooner.

While watching the video, listen for the following:

  • What does Mark say he was "ready for" but didn't act on? Why not?
  • What advice does he give to both his younger self and his current self?
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Anna-Marie Descartes - DJ & Presenter

Anna-Marie is a presenter and DJ based in East London. She was introverted as a child and struggled to find her voice. She dropped out of university, bought a camera and microphone, and just started - but it took years before she felt confident enough to truly be herself.

While watching the video, listen for the following:

  • What does Anna-Marie say she struggled with when she was younger?
  • What does she wish someone had told her?
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Ethan Lloyd - Camera Operator

Ethan is a camera operator who films live motorsport around the world. He was working as a car salesman when he spotted his chance - but getting in meant approaching strangers, being told to go away, and coming back the next day to try again.

While watching the video, listen for the following:

  • What does Ethan say is the worst someone can ever say to you?
  • Why does he say "don't be afraid of what other people think"?

3. Reflect and discuss

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

  • Which person's fear or hesitation do you relate to most - and why?

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

  • Each person faced a different kind of fear - fear of rejection, fear of judgement, fear of not fitting in, fear of not being ready. Which of these do you think holds people back the most? Why?
  • Henrietta went for it despite being in a tiny minority. Mark waited years before putting himself out there. Anna-Marie was scared to use her voice. Ethan was told "no" repeatedly but kept going. What do these four approaches tell you about different ways people deal with fear?
  • If you could give advice to someone a year younger than you who was afraid to try something, what would you say? What would actually help them - and what would just sound like a cliché?