A-Level results day: Ashleigh’s story

How did you find your experience of completing your A-Levels?

After I finished my GCSE’s I decided to stay on at my secondary school for sixth form. It felt so grown up not having to wear uniform anymore, and I loved the fact that I had free periods, it didn’t occur to 16-year-old me to use them for homework as opposed to socialising!

During year 12 I became really unwell with glandular fever and subsequent complications of the illness. This meant that I missed nearly a full term of school, and it wasn’t long after I went back to school that I had to sit my AS Level exams. Unfortunately, due to missing so much school I didn’t do as well as I had hoped so decided to repeat the year.

During that time, I had become very disheartened with studying at school, so soon decided to leave with just the AS Levels I had and go out into the big world of work instead.

How did you come to join EEAST?

My older brother’s friend had not long joined EEAST (which was Essex ambulance service at the time) as a call handler – Simon is also still with EEAST today and works as a duty manager in Chelmsford control room! Having heard about the job my mum decided it would be perfect for me, and when she saw an advert in the local paper, I applied to keep her happy. It wasn’t until I had my interview that I thought wow this might actually be something I can get my teeth in to and was so happy to be offered a job.

What has your career journey with us looked like?

After working as a call handler in Chelmsford control room for a couple of years I then became a call handler team leader, a role I loved and even now feel so proud of all the call handlers that worked on my team and how they have progressed throughout EEAST.

I then went on to be an auditor in the control room’s quality assurance team, another role I really enjoyed as I feel like even now, I could recite the medical priority dispatch system in my sleep!

When I was at school my plan had been to work in journalism and PR. Whilst I was working in the control room I returned to my studies so I could gain the required knowledge and qualifications to work in that area, a decision which was fully supported by my management team who ensured I could attend my lessons.

When I saw a job available within EEAST’s communications and engagement team it seemed like the perfect role for me to combine my experience and genuine love of EEAST along with my other passion of writing and creating content. I have been an internal communications officer since!

What would you like to say to anyone who collected their A-Level results today?

Firstly, congratulations to everyone who got the results they wanted! I see so much on results day about the results ‘not mattering’ that I think it’s a bit harsh for those that have done well. Secondly, if you didn’t get the results you wanted or need – don’t panic! When I was at school I could never have imagined my career journey would look the way it has, but I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and I therefore wouldn’t change anything.

If you’re not sure what to do next there are some fantastic roles in EEAST that you can apply for whilst you decide. You will work with amazing people, get great life experience, and who knows, 20 years later you could still be here like me!