As a mature, hardworking and organised student of Darlington College, I feel I am now ready to expand my experience and knowledge by starting a full-time work role. I think an opportunity in Apprenticeships offers me a good introduction to full-time working. It will give me the chance to learn essential skills that will give me a good grounding to develop my career upon. I have decided to take this route into work, rather than go to University as I want to start earning now and don’t feel a further 3 or 4 years of study is the right path for me to follow. I have a very outgoing personality and am very well organised. At the moment, I’m doing 13 and a half hours a day of work and college combined, as I start work at 5:00am in a local newsagents, before leaving for college, so I am not afraid of hard work, long hours and am skilled at balancing a number of competing priorities – at the moment that being work demands, college deadlines and sporting commitments.