FOR many young people this week will be spent on a high from securing exam results they are proud of.
But for plenty of others there will be a sense of stress and worry after a disappointing end to their school career.
A campaign across Scotland is telling teenagers not to think this is the end of the world.
There are many routes to a successful career - as shown by the #NoWrongPath campaign that reached 14 million people on exam results day last year and it looking to be just as popular this year.
DYW Glasgow asked people to post a photograph of their own path on social media on Tuesday using the hashtag #NoWrongPath and tagging @DYWglasgow, holding a sign with their name, what they did when they left school and what they are doing now.
Still Game's Scott Reid was one of the first to sign up.
He worked in bar jobs to pay the bills before hitting success with Still Game and Line of Duty.
Scott said: “When I left school I was fortunate enough to know what I wanted to do but my path wasn’t easy.
“I studied drama but for the first few years after finishing my studies I worked as a ‘jack of all trades’ - going through various jobs that would pay the bills.
"The hard work paid off and I was lucky enough to break into the acting industry. I’m currently working on various projects and following my dream to be an actor.
“I’ve met so many people along the way that took a variety of paths and ended up where they wanted to be.
"Everything happens for a reason and you can achieve anything with hard work and dedication.”
Martin Little worked in Burger King when he left school but knew this would be a first step on a long route to something entirely different.
He said: “I’m a strong supporter of campaigns such as #NoWrongPath due to my own background – it’s important to tell young people that there are a variety of routes to take.
“When I left school I worked in Burger King for a year and a half but I knew this wasn’t my forever career.
“I took a maternity cover job in the telecoms industry and worked my way up, running a flagship London store for many years.
"Now I have my own telecoms company, LPL Telecoms, and I’m an area leader for the Federation of Small Businesses - the rest is history.”
Bonnie the Seal, mascot for the Glasgow 2018 European Championships, also tweeted a picture and said: “I hope all my pals got the results they were hoping for - but it’s also important to remember that there is No Wrong Path.
"Exams results aren’t everything and we should always be prepared to give new things a go… That’s how I got the job as Glasgow 2018 mascot after all.
“At Glasgow 2018 we’ve got a very diverse range of staff, athletes, and volunteers, and everyone got here by following their own path."
Hosted by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, DYW Glasgow is the Scottish Government’s national strategy for strengthening links between schools and businesses, with the hope of reducing youth unemployment by 40 per cent by 2021.
Gary Ennis who studied architecture but didn’t end up using his degree at all.
He said: “The #NoWrongPath campaign is excellent. There is so much pressure on young people to pass exams so anything that says university is not the only path available is really valuable.
“People are told to study the traditional courses but this doesn’t always suit their chosen career. I took the more traditional university path but then ended up in a completely different industry.
“I studied architecture but when I passed I realised it wasn’t actually what I wanted to do. I started to focus on IT and now I own my own social media company, NS Digital.”
Jenny Stewart who dropped out of two university degrees and is now a communications manager at Young Scot:
She said: “There can be a lot of pressure on young people to take certain paths and make certain choices. So anything that promotes a variety of paths and offers advice and support is excellent.
“I left school and went to university to study politics but I wasn’t enjoying it and I dropped out, after working in a nursing home I thought this might be the path for me but when I started the course my heart just wasn’t in it.
“I ended up studying anthropology and started work as a civil servant. I’m now a communications manager and I love it.
“My path has been really varied but it has all worked out for the best. It’s important to remember that no matter what your results, don’t panic, it will all work out in the end.”
Glasgow's Lord Provost Eva Bolander wished the city's young people well.
She said: “It’s heartening that this initiative has encouraged people to tell powerful stories that help motivate our young people to find their way to a successful career – and highlight the fact that there are many different routes in which to achieve.
“It’s important not to be disheartened if exam results were not as good as expected and to know that there are always a variety of options available.
“The journey ahead can have unexpected turns but there are always other routes that can be explored. The message I’d like to convey is that there is no wrong path to where you want to go.”
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