#NoWrongPath - Are You Ready?

The #NoWrongPath campaign aims to provide reassurance to young people receiving their results in Scotland, by sharing stories of the various routes people have taken to get to where they currently are in their careers, and by highlighting that there is no such thing as a ‘right path.’ DYW looks  forward to running the seventh annual #NoWrongPath campaign to support Scottish Results Day on Tuesday 8th August 2023. 

Many of us will remember our own experiences surrounding results day – including the pressure of receiving certain grades and the feeling that results would determine our future success and attainment. The #NoWrongPath campaign challenges this mindset and encourages us to recognise that every twist, detour, and unexpected turn in our journey can lead to valuable experiences and personal growth.

One of the key messages of the #NoWrongPath campaign is that each step in everybody’s own unique journey is an essential component of personal growth. Rather than fearing missteps, we are encouraged to view them as opportunities for learning, adaptability, and resilience. Embracing the unexpected can lead to new opportunities to discover passions, strengths, and purpose. By acknowledging that everything is a stepping stone on the path to success, we can unlock our true potential.
 
#NoWrongPath aims to celebrate diverse career paths, recognising that everyone has their own unique story, and that there is no wrong path to success. Not everyone knows what they want to do when they leave school, and that is perfectly okay. Many people experiment with multiple stepping stone jobs and experiences before realising their calling. Each step is of equal importance, as it is likely to lead to new experiences, skills, and goals.

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What's Your Story

Think about how you got to where you are now. How did you get there? Perhaps you left school, went straight to university and landed the dream job? Or maybe you found a different  job which led you to develop the skills or passion  needed for your current role which you gradually worked your way up to? Perhaps you encountered challenges or obstacles which increased your resilience and made you who you are today. Or, maybe none  of those  situations applied.
 
Whatever your story, it’s time to own it, be proud, and send reassurance to young people in Scotland receiving their results. Show Scotland’s youth that there is no wrong path.

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How to Get Involved 
This year, you choose how to share your story:

 

• Video: post a short video explaining your career journey – including what you did when you left school vs. what you do now. Videos are effective in capturing tone and personality - not to mention, videos allow room for details. Additionally, research suggests that viewers absorb messages almost ten times more effectively in video form, hence why video is now the most engaging form of post on social media. If using this method, please note that the video doesn’t need to be a specified length and may be as short as 20 seconds, or as long as 10 minutes! 
• Image: post an image which tells viewers what you did when you left school vs. what you do now. There are several ways you can do this: 
  • Use stickers and text to write what you did when you left school vs. now over an image (use of editing apps may be required). 
  • Write a handwritten note stating what you did when you left school vs. what you do now. Take a selfie whilst holding your note. 
  • Print out a branded sign template here, fill out the fields for ‘left school’ and ‘now,’ take a selfie whilst holding the sign. 

• Written post/blog: if you are a bit camera-shy, you can still get involved by writing about your career journey in a standard post/thread or blog piece (make sure you share a link to it via social media). ​

Whatever method you decide to use, remember to include the #NoWrongPath hashtag in your post. This is so your message reaches Scotland’s young people. You are welcome to tag the official DYW Scotland accounts (see links below) and/or your local regional group.
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We cannot wait to hear your stories on 8th August. For resources such as branded templates (optional) check out the official campaign page here. To ensure you stay up to date on campaign info, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Lastly, if you enjoyed this article and would like to read more news about Developing the Young Workforce, click here.