I didn’t go to uni

As thousands of students open their exam results in the UK, many people are getting ready for the next big step: University.

But that path is not for everyone – and it is not necessary to happen.

BBC News spoke to four former students who chose a separate route and still took off their dream jobs.

From working with animals at the Chester Zoo to a picture of Harry Styles on the tour, their stories suggest that the meaning of skipping university is not missing successfully.

When the 29 -year -old Lloyd was growing up in the Wakefield stockport, he did not imagine his future behind a camera, and certainly not on a tour with one of the world’s largest pop stars.

“Until college, my only goal was to become a footballer,” he says.

“I am not the most academic. I did not click with any lesson outside PE. I am a person with a hand.”

When football did not work, he worked in Eldi.

“It took me two years to accommodate, to find any kind of direction or purpose outside the football,” they say.

They spent “a bb catch” for photography through a friend’s film camera, spending their days going out and taking photos together.

Teaching yourself through YouTube and lots of testing and error, Lloyd began chasing messaging agencies and opportunities. This inspired him for a backstage gig at Fashion Week, and eventually to take a picture of Harry Styles’s love on the tour.

“If you told me that when I was working in Eldi that I am in the music world, it was so polar on a tour that I felt that I was going to happen.”

His work on the tour on the tour gave him the title of favorite tour photographer at the 2023 Iheartradio Awards. He has also worked with other celebrities and brands such as Dua Lipa, EA, UFC and Arsenal FC.

Today, Lloyd runs Lloyds Workshop, which is a creative community for young photographers without connections or formal training.

His advice for other young creatives is to take his time.

“There is no shame in getting a normal job,” they say.

“Use it to fund your passion. Don’t rush it.”

Turning back, he says that it was the right call for him not going to the university.

“I learned more by putting myself in those situations in those situations.

Fraser Walsh’s journey to work with Lions did not begin in a laboratory or lecture hall – it began with a job advertisement that he watched by chance.

“I had applied for three different universities, but I did not want to go – it was just because I thought I had no other option,” they say.

“Then I listed a Chester Zukeping Apprenticeship and thought:” Oh God, this is my dream, this is something that I always wanted to do. “

The 21 -year -old, from the idea in the Cheshire, was “passionate” with younger animals, he says, David was running his mother “Crazy” with Atonboro’s love.

But he had no idea how to turn it into a career.

“You don’t really hear about many zookeepers, or if you do, you really don’t know how they reach that position in the first place,” they say.

Now a worthy keeper, the fraser is getting rid of.

“About a year in the training, I was finally able to work with lions by myself. They are your responsibility, then you are taking care of them, and you are very proud of them.

“This is something that I will always keep with me.”

Fraser’s advice for school lever is similar to Lloyd.

“Just don’t rush it, because it’s your life, isn’t it?” He says.

“This type of job is actually in a lifetime, so just go for it.”

For South London Thalika Smith, film-making was always a dream, but it was not right to go to the university to reach there.

“I felt as if school should be done,” she says.

“They were saying the same way to me [directing and producing] Had to go to further studies. But this was not just anything in which I was particularly interested. ,

Her father suggested that she sees in a trainee, Thalika found Channel 4 Production Training Scheme.

“It looked really good,” she says.

“I thought, wow, it’s great. I’ve been working, I have been learning for a year. I have been earning money in an area for a year that will be amazing.”

Thalika was one of the only 10 people selected for the first year of the scheme. From the first day, she says that she knew that she was in the right place.

Now 25, she is working on shows such as The Apprentice, Nude Attraction and Rich Taste with Big Zu and AJ Tracy. She has been filmed abroad in Spain and New York and has gone in the role of assistant producer.

“I didn’t travel much as a child, so flying in amazing places, staying in beautiful hotels, meeting calm people with madness – this dream has come true.”

Now she says that she is emotional about spreading the word.

“Apprenticeships are amazing, [but] I had to dig through Google to find me. They should be promoted more. ,

His advice is “Do not let anyone explain that you cannot do anything”.

“It’s okay that all this is not known,” she says.

“Even those who work have achieved it, maybe it is not known.”

Faye husband’s school year was away from specific.

Chronic fatigue syndrome, as well as diagnosis with pot – a condition that causes dizziness – and hypermobility, was struggling with appearance and anxiety.

Says 19 -year -old, “I had a lot of time and this hard management was stopping and then did not understand the school and teachers and friends back.”

She eventually left the mainstream school and was home school before joining a support unit called Strever.

She says, “It really gives me his GCSE – if I was not there I would probably not manage them.”

After going to college and earning a-level in criminal science and psychology, Fay was still not sure about the university. Then his parents suggested converting a hobby into a career.

“I launched my nails for years and my mother and father said,” Why don’t you do a course and do for other people? ” ,

While working with a converted garage at home in Redcar, he now runs his business fusing nails that are often booked a month ago.

Due to being self-employed, Fay has given the room to flourish despite his health conflicts.

“I have met a lot of good people and made a really strong friendship,” she says.

“This is usually the same. I don’t get the opportunity to do it, because I don’t go out too much.”

Fayi says that young people should not put too much pressure on themselves.

“Have mercy on herself,” she says.

“Don’t hurry yourself to do something that you are not ready to do.”