Lauren Kennedy
I attended Walton Academy from 2008 to 2015.
After studying business studies, English and art at Walton’s sixth form, I went on to build a career as a financial adviser – a path I never imagined while I was at school.
It’s interesting how you can end up in a completely different career to the one you expected. I never used to enjoy maths and didn’t think I was very good at it, and now I work with numbers every day. At the time, you might not think the skills you are learning will ever help you in the future, but you never know how they will become part of your daily life.
I left Walton in 2015 without really knowing what I wanted to do, other than wanting to work and earn money. I had a part-time job at a petrol station and worked as many hours as I could while applying for full-time administration roles. Six months later, I secured a trainee administrator position at a local firm in Grantham. I started on reception and basic administration before progressing to supporting a financial adviser, then moving into paraplanning and report writing.
With the encouragement of my employer, I completed professional exams alongside full-time work – something I never thought I would do after leaving school – and gained a Diploma in regulated financial planning. Two and a half years later, I qualified as a financial adviser. It was a huge personal achievement and showed me that anything is possible when you put your mind to it.
I will always be grateful for the help and support I received while I was at Walton, and I would encourage students to give things a go, even if it feels uncomfortable at the time – you’ll feel proud of yourself for trying.
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We are Walton
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