Picturing the future with the SDS Results Helpline
Louise Davidson-Clyne is now on the path to her dream career after a call to the Results Helpline last year.
Former West Calder High pupil Louise struggled at school because of dyslexia and wasn’t expecting top grades from S6 exams.
Although Louise had previously met with her careers adviser at school, the 18 year old says that she wanted to call the helpline once she knew her results, to understand her options.
Louise said: “I found school hard and didn’t think I would do well in my exams so, I wasn’t disappointed with my results, I just didn’t know where to go next with the qualifications I had. I decided to call the Results Helpline to understand my options.”
Louise, from Mid-Calder, was connected to helpline adviser Maxine. Louise said: “Maxine asked me all the right questions. We talked about my qualifications, what I was interested in and what didn’t interest me.
“My main passion was photography, so she looked at potential courses that I could apply for. We also talked about other possibilities and Maxine gave me information about make-up and psychology courses.
“I got lots of information and help on how to apply and the links to take me to the application pages. Maxine also sent me information about a couple of apprenticeships that might be of interest to me and a link to apprenticeships.scot to find out more.”
Speaking to Maxine made Louise feel more positive about herself and her options. Louise explained: “Maxine was able to show me that I still had opportunities with the results I had achieved. I didn’t think I would be able to get into a photography course but she was able to help me see that I had the skills and ability to apply.”
I am 100% glad that I called the helpline and spoke to Maxine, otherwise, I’m really not sure what I’d be doing today.
Louise Davidson-Clyne
Thanks to the support from Maxine, Louise was successful in her application to the Edinburgh College photography course, which she started last September, and is excited to be working towards her dream career.
Louise said: “I am really enjoying my course and planning to progress on to the next level at the college after completion. My ambition is to get into fashion photography and see my work in Vogue.
“I am 100% glad that I called the helpline and spoke to Maxine, otherwise, I’m really not sure what I’d be doing today.”
Thinking about what she would say to other young people who end up in a similar situation with their results, Louise said: “I was in a group of friends who were really smart, and so I didn’t think I would be able to succeed like they had. The experience with Results Helpline made me realise that you just need to find your pathway and try as best as you can to pursue it, as there will be support available to help get you where you want to be.”