Archbishop Temple School Alumni
What are they doing now?
Name: William Simpson
What year did you leave Archbishop Temple School? 2010
Qualifications.
GCSEs: English Language, English Literature, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, History, ICT, RE, Spanish
A Levels/BTEC: Maths (A*), Further Maths (A), Computing (A), Physics (B)
Other Qualifications/Training: MEng (Systems Engineering)
Current occupation: Systems Engineer
My story:
Even though I ended up studying STEM subjects at college and university, in high school I initially preferred English, History and other humanities subjects. Gradually, this shifted towards science and IT as I realised that these were subjects I wanted to study further.
When I moved onto college, I chose to study Maths, Further Maths, Computing, Physics and Business Studies. I thought Business Studies would give me some rest from seeing numbers everywhere, but if you’re smarter than I was, you’d probably realise there is a lot of maths involved in business! I decided not to continue Business Studies after gaining my AS-Level, as it didn’t contribute much to my intended university options, and I needed to focus on other subjects.
Even though I enjoyed the topics I studied, I still had to work very hard to get the results I wanted. Eventually, I went on to study Systems Engineering at Loughborough University and managed to gain a sponsorship with BAE Systems along the way. This gave me the opportunity to work between my years at university, allowing me to gain experience and some extra money.
After university, I joined BAE Systems full-time by entering their graduate programme. This is a 2-year scheme that trains graduates to improve themselves and become effective workers. BAE Systems are a defence company and within their aerospace division, I have worked on cockpit avionics, flight testing and mission planning (to name a few).
I enjoy my job because I get to work with unique and exciting technologies, meet people from around the world and travel to places that I wouldn’t otherwise visit (including RAF bases).
My advice to you:
My advice would be, don’t compare yourself to others. Even if you share the same goals as someone else, your path to success may be completely different. Constantly comparing and worrying about other people will only make you lose sight of your own achievements.
Another piece of advice would be although they are important your qualifications are not everything. In order to stand out, you need to show that you can apply your knowledge into your own hobbies and interests. With my work, I’ve had the chance to look through cover letters and applications from students. Often, it is a student’s ability to apply themselves outside of education that sets them apart from everyone else. It doesn’t need to be boring stuff, mix in your personal interests and find something you love to show off your skills!
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