Stirling High School

Rachel Cowie

About me

I am currently an Assistant Energy Officer within Stirling Council. When I left SHS I had a few options to choose from, either going to University, College or a 2 year Administration Apprenticeship within Stirling Council. I decided that I wanted to go with the apprenticeship to gain first hand experience in the work place while earning money and also gaining qualifications at the same time. A lot of my friends went off to university so this was doing something completely different and I can say this was the best decision I could have made. If it were not for my apprenticeship I do not think I would be in the position I am just now. I started off as a Trainee Admin Support Officer and gained my SVQ level 2 & 3, once my apprenticeship was finished I applied for a role within the asset team and became a Building, Energy and Maintenance Assistant which allowed me to further develop and got me out of the admin officer role and into a more technical role. I then moved solely into the Energy team and worked my way to becoming an Assistant Energy Officer.

Left school

June 2013.

Senior Phase

In S5 I achieved Higher (SCQF level 6) English, Administration and IT and Business Management and Intermediate 2 (SCQF level 5) Maths and Music.

In S6 I achieved Higher (SCQF level 6) English, Music and RMPS along with Intermediate 2 (SCQF level 5) Home Economics (practical cookery).

Through my work I have achieved - SVQ Level 3 Business and Administration (SCQF Level 6),SVQ Level 2 Business and Administration (SCQF Level 5) and Energy Institute Level 1: Certificate in Energy Management Essentials.

Choosing my Destination

I discussed with friends and family and eventually settled on the apprenticeship because it gave me the opportunity of gaining qualifications but more importantly gaining valuable work experience and getting my foot in the door. This helped me massively as the department I am in just now is the same department I was in when I was started my apprenticeship.

Extra Curricular & Work Experience

I was in the charities committee and briefly on the girls school rugby team at school. Outside of school I was a Girl Guide and achieved the highest award in guiding which was the Baden-Powell Award which was great experience for team work, coming up with group activities, completing charity work and many other very valuable skills. I volunteered at the Cancer research shop to gain some work experience and also volunteered at the Bannockburn Riding for the Disabled.

Skills I've developed

All these activities allowed me to further enhance my skills in regards to communication, team work, leadership, meeting the needs of vulnerable groups and just gaining work experience as a whole. Which all played a very big part when I left school and started my trainee apprenticeship.

My Advice

My advice would be that you don’t need to put so much pressure on yourself and compare yourself to what others are doing and achieving. I would never have believed I would be in an energy related role as when I was younger I was always told you had to have higher science subjects and maths to get anything close to that kind of area but sometimes your experience is more valuable than grades or going down the path of university. We are told from a young age that if you don’t go to university you don’t amount to anything but I would like to think that me leaving school and going straight into an apprenticeship in a completely different field to what I am now just shows you can do anything you want to no matter what route you choose.

I would just like to say enjoy your time at school it goes by in a flash and choose subjects you enjoy rather than picking what friends are doing this will ultimately set you up for success.

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