LIKE two-thirds of the population, I didn’t go to University.
I chose to do a year’s secretarial course, which earned me really useful, practical skills I still use to this day.
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This was despite being told over and over again that no employer would even look at my CV if it didn’t have a degree on it.
I have no regrets.
Three years at uni would doubtless have been enjoyable and formative but I’m a practical kinda gal and wanted to get into the workplace instead of being burdened with debt and getting a degree that would most likely not have guaranteed work.
As a mother of four, I’ve never worried about what career furrow my children choose to plough. I saw my maternal role as a nurturer, carer, feeder and supporter. I wanted them to have complete autonomy over whatever path they might choose.
So far, three of four of them have opted to go the university route — two of which have resulted in very fruitful careers.
Despite this, my youngest who — at 17 — is in his final year at school doing A levels, is now on the threshold of making the next choice about his future, and for the first time in 31 years I’m actually deeply concerned about what options might be available.
I’ve found myself trying to encourage him to consider an apprenticeship instead — some- thing that might set him on a path to an actual job and with an actual skill.
The problem is, his generation has grown up surrounded by YouTubers, influencers and reality stars, making them believe that all they have to do is film themselves getting ready in the morning and the money will come rolling in.
There’s definitely a perception that life will just pan out and that work is there for the taking.
My son told me a few years ago that he wanted to become a YouTuber when he grew up and it sent a chill down my spine.
Added to this, many of them spend their time googling their anxiety symptoms — self-diagnosing mental health issues or discovering that their neurodiversity renders them incapable of holding down a job.
I really worry about their resilience.
The fact is that with the advent of AI, so many jobs and careers are already redundant.
If a computer can do it, why on earth would an employer waste money investing in an actual person?
Those achieving top degrees are now finding that despite their excellent qualifications, higher-level jobs require experience — and they can’t get experience at the entry level because all those jobs are now being performed by AI.
It’s a disastrous, vicious cycle.
So what will become of our children and their futures?
I’ve suggested my son trains as a plumber or electrician because people will ALWAYS need them — and when we do, they’re as rare as hen’s teeth.
I’ve always revered those with practical skills, and an unwavering admiration for those capable of doing something I can’t.
Ironically, when I was studying for A levels, there was a palpable snobbery towards those who left straight after O levels to pursue education at colleges in catering or manual skills.
Well, who’s laughing now? It certainly isn’t those with degrees in subjects no one has a particular need for — English or Philosophy, for example.
It’s the plumbers, builders and sparkies who earn more than a decent living.
And as a writer, I’m acutely aware that my talent can be replaced by AI.
There is no such thing as a “job for life” any more.
The kids of today are going to require not just different kinds of skillsets to make it into retirement but, more importantly, they’re going to have to have the ability to chop and change careers. It’s estimated they will change jobs between nine and 15 times in a lifetime.
Being flexible, irrepressible and adaptable is the order of the day.
While we drone on and on about a skills shortage, very little seems to be done to encourage the next generation to gain some.
And while I love my son dearly, I also don’t want him still living at home when he’s 40 because without a job he can’t afford to rent or buy a place of his own.
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DREAM FELLAS ABSENT
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I SPENT much of the weekend with a sinus infection and bad cough so the only cure was binge-watching.
My oldest daughter, 24, was at home so together we indulged in The Girlfriend on Prime, which was utterly gripping.
Not only have I had a decades-long crush on Robin Wright but I also fell in love with actor Laurie Davidson, who plays her son and the boyfriend to the girlfriend.
His character falls deeply and rapidly in love with the girl, and it made me reflect on how long ago it was since I felt anything like that.
That then made me think about the emotional love songs Lewis Capaldi writes about love and heartbreak.
Then I read that the new boyfriend of Jennifer Aniston says she mended his broken heart.
And it suddenly made me wonder where all these ROMANTIC men actually are?
I see them depicted on the big and the small screen. Disney has told us for decades our prince will come. I hear songs written by sentimental, soppy men about love and loss but in the real world, they are nowhere to be seen.
Dating apps are drier than a slice of toast left out for a week.
While I will always be an old romantic at heart, I’ve become savagely cynical about romance in a world where men consider responding to a text within a week far too soon, where showing they are keen is considered a mistake, and where expressing intent or being loving makes them vulnerable.
Perhaps we could balance the books a bit more and show some of the shocking realities of “modern romance”.
Mind you, that would take FOR EVER . . .
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GRACE A HERO
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THE murder of three people in Nottingham city centre in June 2023 was shocking, perhaps more so because two of the victims were 19-year-old students, Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar.
The families of all three victims – including school caretaker Ian Coates – continue to fight for justice in those parts of the NHS which were aware of the offender.
But it’s pleasing to hear that Grace, who was murdered while she was trying to save Barnaby, is being posthumously awarded the George Medal for her bravery.
It will do nothing to undo what happened, but how welcome for her family to know her courage is being recognised in this way.
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DON’T BE SWIFT TO JUDGE SPAT
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I’VE never been a Swifty. Her music is OK – it does what it says on the tin – and while I respect her business kudos and musical talent, she’s just not very “me”.
So, forgive me if I didn’t get my knickers in a twist at the release of her latest album.
What did catch my attention, though, was the negative comments she received about her song directed at Charli XCX (more my kind of a gal, tbh) which appear to be a dig at the Brit singer.
People have commented that there’s something distinctly “un-feminist” about Swift, dissing her former friend but I think they’re wrong.
Just because two women fall out and one woman criticises another, it does not mean they’re not feminists. Feminism means equality for the sexes – for women among men and in the world at large.
As a woman – and a feminist myself – I cannot be expected to like every woman I meet.
But as Tay seems to take down and condemn every man she’s ever been with, it’s only fair and equal she passes comment on the women in (or out of) her life, too.
SARAH CAN FIX FAULTS
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I CERTAINLY did not believe I’d ever see the election of a female Archbishop of Canterbury in my lifetime but here she is – Dame Sarah Mullally.
And while I’m not a practising Christian, I’m really encouraged by this choice.
The Church of England has had persistent failures in safeguarding relating to child sexual abuse, declining congregations and funds, and deep divisions over social issues such as same-sex blessings.
Not to mention struggling for relevance in the world today.
But I love what the new Archbishop said in her first public address: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”.
Electing a “her” is a massive achievement – especially as so many religions consider women to be second-class citizens.
The Church faces huge challenges but perhaps it’s finally dawned on them that if you want to get a job done properly, get a woman.
