We recently welcomed 21 students to the Oppidan Academy: a free one-week work experience initiative for students aged 15-18, designed to give them an insight into the world of business. We welcomed a variety of speakers, from architecture firms and travel companies to doctors, consultants and lawyers. Here are some reflections that two students made about their week:

Alexandra Walker

My friend and I had travelled quite far to attend the Oppidan Academy. I remember the both of us standing outside of the Academy the day before, so we wouldn’t get lost when we attended it on the next day. We were so excited about the opportunity, and about what we would face the coming week. Let me tell you - we weren’t disappointed.

There were talks from a myriad of people, from architecture to counselling. Each session gave lots of information about different sectors, jobs, and businesses. It gave me a lot of insight into different career paths, and I especially enjoyed the activities they had planned throughout the sessions as I got to dabble into things that I have never done before.

A personal favourite though, was the Dragons Den challenge we had to work on and present at the end of the week. I gained a lot of knowledge and insight from the speakers that I used to develop our project, and I found it very reassuring how the speakers shared some of their personal experiences with us, especially the fact that most of their careers were non-linear.

Personally, I found Keji, who spoke about working as a doctor, the most impactful speaker. I have wanted to go into medicine for many years now, and theirsession gave me an incredible insight what the profession would look like as a whole. It solidified my passion for the subject.

Despite being excited, I I was also very nervous on the first day. “Hi, I’m just going to introduce myself before I chicken out, my name is Alex” was the first interaction I had with my peer. Looking back, I had nothing to be nervous about: I was welcomed in open arms by my (now) friends who helped me build up my confidence throughout the week.

My time at the Oppidan Academy was amazing.

Najma Abdulaahi

My time at the Oppidan Academy was wonderful; not only did I have the pleasure of meeting new people, but I had the opportunity to learn more about different career choices. Throughout the week, we had multiple speakers come to explain the skills that are required for a particular career. For me, the most impactful speaker was Ben Boardman, the founder of SportsShare. I found his social media app intriguing and unique as it aims to improve connectivity for anyone involved in sports. His company has been a success, despite the early difficulties in setting up.

We also took part in group exercises which enhanced our communication skills. For example, we had to get into small groups with roughly 3 or 4 people in them and were instructed to start a business, where we would either made a unique product or provide a service to the public. Our group learnt from each other and we worked together listening and taking into consideration everyone's ideas to produce our very own women's only gym, and this greatly enhanced my creativity, leadership and critical thinking skills.

The main thing I learnt from my work experience was that it's perfectly normal to be uncertain about the career path that you could take. Before, I had a rough idea of the career path I wanted to take but I still wasn't entirely sure. However, I now feel more confident about my future career with a broader understanding of a wide range of professions. I will always take forward the idea that never giving up on current endeavours will consistently help improve career success.

Overall, I am grateful for the opportunity; it was an exciting and thrilling experience and interacting with new people greatly boosted my confidence.