A-Level results day: Harry’s story

How did you find your experience of completing your A-Levels?

I really struggled throughout my A-Level years. I had been academic throughout school and during my GCSEs, getting alright grades. I had hoped to go to medical school following my A-Levels, which meant I needed to attain straight A’s including Chemistry. Unfortunately, I failed this in my first year and lost hope very quickly!

How did you come to join EEAST?

I came to EEAST initially after completing an internal student paramedic pathway in the West Midlands. EEAST always appeared further ahead than other Trusts in regard to progression pathways and support. They were also one of the few trusts at the time to offer their paramedics band 6 after a year!

I spent four years working frontline in north and central Cambridgeshire, taking up other roles such as clinical field operations trainer and mentor, as well as completing my wound closure training, before leaving to further myself in various roles in and around Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire. Last year I returned to the Trust, to the sector resuscitation officer to Cambridge and Peterborough after seeing it advertised on “X” and liking the look of the role.

What has your career journey with us looked like?

In my early years as a paramedic, the trust really helped me get a flavour of what was out there for paramedicine and has helped me build on the training from university. When I left, I gained extra qualifications, including a PGCert in pre-hospital critical care and various other short courses, all of which were only open to me thanks to a level 6 short course in paramedic practice education that EEAST put me through.

Prior to leaving, I was part of the clinical field operations trainer and mentor team and regularly mentored students on both university and internal pathways, which sparked my interest in clinical education, in which I have had a few roles around during my paramedic journey. Since re-joining, the Trust is helping me with various vocational courses to support my role in clinical education, but also allowing me the time to complete a master’s degree alongside my role.

What would you like to say to anyone who collected their A-Level results today?

For those of you that have got what you needed to follow your chosen pathway, well done! But don’t lose sight of other opportunities that may make themselves apparent to you throughout your career. For those of you who haven’t achieved what you thought you needed, this isn’t the end! There are always ways around getting to where you want to be, and you may find another, similar role that actually suits you better! Never give up pushing for your dreams.