A Co Tyrone man is thriving at a Belfast law firm after choosing to skip university and go straight into the world of work via an apprenticeship.
Cookstown man James Reynolds, 28, said he had planned to go to university but had second thoughts in the months leading up to it.
The former Cookstown High School pupil has now spent 10 years at Allen & Overy after initially starting with an apprenticeship.
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This week marks NI Apprenticeship Week, and James hailed the opportunity he got which has seen him get to travel to the US for work.
“I had originally planned to go to university. I wanted a career in IT and university was seen as the ‘default’ path to achieving this,” James said.
“However, the summer before I was due to go to university, I had second thoughts about whether it was the right choice for me. I decided to defer my place by a year to see if I could do things differently.
“Shortly afterwards, I came across the IT Apprenticeship scheme at A&O. It was a perfect fit for me as I find that I learn things much easier by doing them myself, rather than sitting in a classroom.”
James said going straight to work in Belfast after coming out of school at 18 was a huge learning curve.
“I was able to jump right in and gain real work experience while learning at the same time,” he added.
“Within a couple of months, I went from attending school in Cookstown, to working in an office in Belfast. It was a big change, but I loved it.
“I gained valuable qualifications and was able to complete a number of IT certifications during my course.
“I’ve had the opportunity to travel and work from other offices including London, New York and San Francisco. I enjoy travelling in my own time; having the chance to do so for work has given me some great experiences.
“Would I have ended up in the same position if I’d gone to university? Possibly, but I believe it would have taken me much longer, and I would still be paying off my student loans!
“University is not the only option. While it is great for some, it is also not for everyone. The apprenticeship route was perfect for me. I’ve never looked back and would happily recommend it to anyone.”
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