Career Journeys and Resilience Take Centre Stage in National Careers Week Talk

As part of Aldridge School’s celebrations for National Careers Week, pupils have continued to benefit from a wide range of visitors sharing insights into their professional journeys.  

On Wednesday morning, we were delighted to welcome Chantel Brooks, a parent of one of our pupils, who spoke to Year 9 students about resilience, careers, and the realities of navigating a modern working life. 

Chantel explained that career paths are rarely straightforward. Instead of being linear, they are often “squiggly”, and young people must learn to adapt and grow as opportunities and challenges arise.

She shared a practical four step plan for “how to bounce back from any setback”, offering advice that students can apply now as well as in the future. To bring these ideas to life, she drew on examples of well known figures who overcame significant obstacles before achieving success. 

During the session, Chantel also explored the employability skills most valued by employers today, including resilience, adaptability, problem solving, communication, and maintaining a positive growth mindset. She left students with a powerful message: “Your setbacks don’t define you—how you respond to them does.” 

Aldridge School extends a big thank you to Chantel Brooks for taking the time to speak with our students and for playing a valuable role in supporting National Careers Week.