DD lacking motivation for A-Levels

[hobbcat]

DD did well at GCSE but as Y12 has progressed she has struggled with anxiety, an inspirational teacher left and she’s no longer enjoying one of her other subjects. She’s doing three A-Levels and has completed a successful course of CBT. She isn’t interested in University and doesn’t have a clear plan at the moment. She’s a hard worker and has always enjoyed her Saturday job.

She’s just about to do her mocks and she knows that she hasn’t prepared well enough for them. She’s feeling discouraged right now.

We’ve told her to do her best and let’s see how she does. It doesn’t help that her best friends and b/f don’t study at her sixth form. She really values her social life.. Anyone else been here?

I was the unmotivated teen.

I think you are being very sensible to see how she does. A Levels for me were a waste of two years of my life. I am not saying it is the same for your DD.

What is her Saturday job?

Does she have any ideas for a career?

She has to be in education, employment or training but that doesn't always mean VI form and A Levels.

Yup defo do NOT understand the insistence on A levels!
My teen has hated every minute of it, is about to leave with mediocre results and has had zero information about what to do next.
Her “apprenticeship “options” at 16 were

1. hair and beauty
2. bricklaying
3. childcare
4. army

She worked for 4 years at a kennels and has just switched to a lovely cafe to give her more customer facing opportunities

Interested in business, management, finance, psychology - but not at University

She’s a great girl but gets so frustrated by sixth form and the slog of a-levels. She has been told to engage with the whole personal statement thing.

Has she looked at apprenticeships?

Of your list, psychology is unlikely without a degree; but the other options are feasible. Look at apprenticeships in an office - she could go into a finance role for sure. Here's a list of currently available opportunities in that area (obvs I don’t know where you are but you can add that filter):

https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeships?searchTerm=finance&sort=AgeAsc

If she suffers from anxiety an apprenticeship may be a better fit. This was one of my DD's, she's really happy and being put through a professional qualification. I have no doubt she'll get to where she wants to be.

Life is a bit of a slog. You sometimes have to work hard at stuff you don’t enjoy without someone else pushing you on.

If she’s bright and a hard worker she will no doubt succeed in life, she will just take a wigglier path. But it would be a shame if she didn’t have much to show for two years of A Level study.

Her work ethic makes me think she would be a superb fit for apprenticeship? There are a lot of financial and construction related professional careers that are going this way, accounting, quantity surveying etc have a look.

Weirdly her lovely bf is planning to be a quantity surveyor. I know they talk about careers and she likes the fact that he needs to learn specifics for his T-Level course.

She seems a bit more upbeat now the exams are over and she’s off on work experience at an accountancy practice. Hoping (quietly) that she enjoys the adventure. She did some work experience before starting A-Levels in an HR department which she quite enjoyed at the time.

Totally agree about A-Levels being a slog and needing to be a self starter. She definitely sees her dad and I putting in the hours after work and at weekends.

On we go!