Ola, Year 13 student at Haberdashers' Crayford Academy, shares her experience of Habs Aspire:

At the start of Year 12, I felt quite unsure about what I wanted to do in the future. 

I knew I needed some guidance in my career path, and I hoped that mentoring would help make things feel less confusing and overwhelming. 

That’s why I decided to join the Aspire programme.

When I first started, I wasn’t very confident in my communication skills. 

The idea of speaking with professionals and meeting new people felt intimidating, and I was definitely nervous going into the programme. 

Through regular mentoring, I developed my communication skills and even improved at networking — something I never imagined I’d feel confident doing.

The Aspire celebration events gave me the chance to meet professionals from different fields, learn about their work, and understand the transferable skills they use every day.

I don’t think I would have had those opportunities if I hadn’t been part of Aspire, and they really broadened my understanding of what different careers can look like.

Overall, I gained much stronger communication skills, increased confidence, better networking abilities, and a clearer understanding of potential career paths. I also built meaningful connections and received guidance that genuinely helped me think about my future in a more focused way.

My advice to anyone considering the Aspire programme is to go into it headfirst. It might feel scary and nerve‑wracking at first, but the skills, guidance, and connections you gain are absolutely worth it. It truly does make a difference.