As a year 12 student, I can honestly say that thinking about the future is frightening.

Talking about University applications, personal statements, apprenticeships and work experience is extremely daunting.

But you cannot escape this stage in your life.

Because it is the stepping stone you need to succeed.

And you are not alone because there are numerous other year 12 students across the UK, going through exactly the same thing.

And let’s not forget, the support that hopefully your family and school will offer you during this process, will be significant.

From my own personal experience, my school has thankfully started to prepare us for that mindset; and has pushed me to think about the future, starting with university talks with the career advisor.

But most importantly on Monday 25th March 2019, my school organised a day at the London UCAS Exhibition. The exhibition which took place at the Excel London Centre was full of university representatives and seminars which helped lots of students from different schools, gain exposure to this world of higher education.

It has been the most eye-opening experience of my Year 12 life since starting Sixth form in September. I feel that actually having that one-on-one time with the university representatives has built my confidence in terms of what universities and courses, I may want to pursue.

The atmosphere was filled with excitement, the whole event was so well organised and we were given maps and endless amounts of booklets and leaflets about our university choices.

And just like many Year 12 students, I am so grateful for all the advice that I was given because I needed that guidance and expertise.

Also, it is really important that events such as the London UCAS exhibition continue to happen because not everyone has access to careers advisors, mentors or people who will generally help them with this gruelling application process. The UCAS team has offered so many young adults this amazing opportunity to explore their futures and truly figure out what they want in life.

Just hearing the word university scared me.

Just hearing the word future scared me.

But not anymore.

But I think there will always be a little bit of fear and doubt.

You are never going to feel 100% confident in something that is extremely foreign to you.

That is just life.

But after experiencing the London UCAS exhibition event, university doesn’t seem so foreign to me anymore.

I have a better understanding of what I need to do now and what grades are necessary to obtain placement at the university of my choice.

At the end of the day, you are not doing this for anyone but yourself.

All your hard work is going towards your future and not your friends.

As a year 12 student, it is so important that you put yourself first now.

And do everything you can to make your UCAS application standout.

These two years of sixth form or college are not just fun and games.

2 years is not a lot of time.

You have to buckle down now, so you won’t regret it in the future.

It’s time to get serious.

It’s time to get serious, about what you want in life.