My Life: Olivia Candy, 16, Bristol
Olivia Candy
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
My dream is to become a combat medical technician in the British Armed Forces. Entering the army is quite a big decision, but while my twin sister focuses on her A-levels, this is the route that I want to take.
Growing up, I always thought of myself as a kind and caring person. But from a young age, I also felt drawn to going into the army. I would go to Fairford Airshow with my dad, and each year we would see women from the military, marching proudly in their uniforms. Then the army came to my school for a careers day and they asked me what my interests were. At the time I was interested in being a midwife or a nurse, so they suggested that the combat medical technician role would be a good fit. They told me about all the adventurous training that I would do and it sounded right up my street.
I joined the Bristol Military Preparation College to get me ready to begin my phase one training.
Each day the instructors work to get us physically and mentally prepared for being in the army. Discipline is a big part of that, and the daily physical training is very hard work. But I've seen myself become fitter each day, and I know I need to put in the effort to get myself ready for the future.
I've always been interested in watching military programmes on TV, and when I was sitting at home and first saw [BBC series] Our Girl, I thought: that could be me. It's been really inspirational and has helped me to find what I'm really passionate about. When I watch it now, I can't believe that's what I could be doing in just a few years' time.