August 13, 2025 - 777 views
Gracie Brooks, 18, from Colwyn Bay, broadened her horizons and found clarity about her future thanks to careers support at her school.
Gracie wasn’t sure what to do after her GCSEs. Her friends were heading to college or sixth form, and she needed to decide what was right for her. She chose to stay at her school because she had a good relationship with her teachers and could study subjects she liked.
“I had no idea what I wanted to do,” Gracie said. “But I didn’t want to regret not doing anything. I decided to pick subjects that I felt like I'd enjoy, but I still felt quite lost.”
That’s when she heard about Ariane Tomes, the school’s careers adviser. Gracie booked an appointment and found it really helpful. “She was so, so lovely. She made me feel so comfortable,” Gracie said.
Ariane asked her about her subjects and could tell which ones she was most interested in. They talked about different career paths and options that Gracie hadn’t considered before. “She opened my eyes a lot more and helped me realise that there are different options after doing your A levels,” Gracie explained.
Ariane showed her the Careers Wales website, where Gracie took the Career Match Quiz, and this suggested she might enjoy working in management. Together, they looked at different jobs and how to get into them.
Gracie went to a few careers events and at one, she found out more about a business management apprenticeship at Airbus. “I spoke to Ariane after the event, and she helped me realise that business is the kind of sector that I’d like to go into,” she said.
“I applied for the apprenticeship but also applied to university as a backup. The interview process was tough. I came out of it thinking I hadn’t got it,” she said. But a month later, she got a phone call saying she’d been accepted. “I was so surprised by it,” Gracie said. “I knew how competitive it was and I didn’t fully believe that I could do it. But I was over the moon!”
Gracie now tells her friends how useful it was to speak to a careers adviser. “It is so beneficial to go and talk to somebody that has such a broad knowledge on options after education and so many different pathways and can just guide you.”
Thanks to Ariane’s support, Gracie found a path that felt right for her—and she’s excited about what’s ahead.
With thousands of students set to receive their A-level, GCSE and vocational qualification results, Welsh Government is encouraging learners to contact Working Wales, a free and impartial service for anyone aged 16 and over which is delivered by Careers Wales.
As part of the Welsh Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee, anyone aged between 16 and 24 can access help to find a place in education or training, secure a job, or start their own business.
Support is delivered through Working Wales, where young people can speak directly with an expert careers adviser for guidance tailored to their individual goals and circumstances.
For more information about the Young Person’s Guarantee, and how to access support around results, visit the Working Wales website to speak to an adviser via webchat or call free on 0800 028 4844.
