CYP Now - My Life: Haroon Ali, 18, London

"You could've got into a really good university with those grades," is an expression I have heard time and again. But as my friends strived to get into the university of their picking, I strived to seek an apprenticeship that would help me in the short- and the long-term.

I stumbled across the Leadership Through Sport scheme online and was drawn to its mention of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation. As a football fan, the idea of working with a premier league club fascinated me.

As my A-levels were business-orientated, I had looked into accountancy. I knew that an Association of Accounting Technician (AAT) qualification is the stepping stone into accountancy and many other professions. Experience within the industry is also vital.

The Leadership Through Sport project incorporated employment within a large corporate firm, while also allowing me to gain an AAT level 2 and 3. The project also opened up other avenues: to complete a Football Association level 1 badge, to be given a role within the foundation, as well as the chance to hear guest speakers. After completing my FA level and my AAT level 2, I will be offered work placements.

It will open up a myriad of options. I could currently be at university, but then I would have missed out on an opportunity of a lifetime.

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