From the classroom to Cadburys: My journey to a degree apprenticeship while navigating mental health challenges

Life is like a Box of Chocolates

Have you ever found yourself stuck in the confectionery aisle, overwhelmed by the endless choices? The familiar hues of purples and blues seem to call you towards your usual favourite. You’re almost set to grab it, that dependable sweet fix, when something unusual catches your attention.

At the corner of your eye, there’s a chocolate bar you don’t quite recognise, its shiny wrapper glinting with a promise that’s hard to ignore. It’s intriguing, even a bit daring. The price? Almost too good to be true (especially in this economy). You hesitate, but curiosity wins—you take a chance, thinking, what do I have to lose?

This is exactly how I felt as I faced the choices awaiting me after my A-Levels. The conventional path was there, sure, but it felt increasingly out of reach. The various obstacles I faced in my journey pushed me to consider an alternative. I knew that choosing this less traditional path was a leap of faith, one that could either propel me forward or pull me back. But ultimately, it was a risk I was willing to take. After all, what did I have to lose?

Finding the Right Box

School was an interesting chapter of my life, while the early years weren’t particularly memorable, I never felt hugely overwhelmed or under pressure, I had accepted the status quo and aligned my beliefs to what I felt was the norm.

Up until that point, life had been presented to me as a series of boxes. Depending on where I wanted to end up, I could choose the box that best suited me and shape my decisions accordingly. If I wanted to become a doctor, I’d pick science A-levels and sign up for all the right extracurriculars. If I wanted to be a lawyer, I’d aim for a place at a Russell Group university. For me, it was business that sparked my interest, which evolved into a clear goal: to study at a top business school. That became my box, and I kept that in mind throughout my GCSEs, right up to the exams.

By the time I had finished my GCSEs, I had a set of grades I was genuinely proud of. I also felt a strong sense of identity (or so I thought at the time). I knew who I was, which box I could fit into and where that would take me.

My Battle with Mental Health

Then came A-levels and everything changed. The ease of education I had taken for granted felt like a distant memory. Education went from being a manageable walk in the park to feeling like a relentless uphill climb. Deadlines loomed, revision piled up, exams were around every corner and there was just so much content to master!

To make matters worse, this intense academic pressure collided with some really difficult personal challenges. As if that wasn’t enough, the Covid-19 pandemic swept in, turning life on its head. Suddenly, it felt like the box I’d built for myself wasn’t big enough to hold all the struggles and uncertainties I now faced.

With the added loss of identity, I began to crumble under the mounting pressure. I found myself locked into a battle with clinical depression and for the remainder of my A-Levels my only mission was to stay afloat. I began to really question what was right for me and my future.

My attendance plummeted to below 38% and I spent countless days and nights questioning every aspect of what I thought I believed. I was no longer the right fit for any predefined box and that made my future seem so uncertain.

When Doubt Ignites Drive

At the time, exams felt like my only chance to achieve some measure of success. Yet with so much missed content, the odds of being prepared for them seemed almost impossible. Seeking guidance, I turned to my teachers, only to be met with suggestions I hadn’t expected: “drop out, or at least drop an A-Level.” Looking back, I realise they were only trying to ease the pressure I was under. But in that moment, their words ignited something inside of me.

It was in those moments that my motivation shifted —it wasn’t just about proving something to myself anymore, but about proving everyone else wrong. No one believed I could achieve anything remarkable. After all, I had failed in what seemed like the most pivotal moment of my education. What chance did I have now?

A Breakthrough Moment

In the final months of my A-Levels, I decided I had no choice but to pour everything I had into my studies. It was during this time I came across apprenticeships. Their unique recruitment process, a deviation from the UCAS points system, offered me some hope. If I could achieve grades good enough to land an interview, I could focus on building on my extracurriculars to strengthen my CV. Fuelled by this newfound determination, I gave it my all and managed to walk away with average grades.

Despite the level of resilience I had, I still left the A-level process absolutely crushed, knowing I hadn’t achieved my full potential and my grades didn’t reflect my academic ability. I decided to take a year out to focus on my mental health and build on my experiences. However, my hopes of studying at a leading university were fading until, almost like a light bulb moment, I remembered a conversation I had with my teacher during my A-Levels.

I had been looking into degree apprenticeships and this specific scheme at Mondelez had really caught my interest. I remember being quite quickly dismissed at the time, so little was known about higher apprenticeships and the chances I’d even get to the application stage were slim.

Beyond the Textbooks

I spent my gap year laser-focused on my goals. The future felt uncertain, but an apprenticeship seemed like a fresh shot at success. During this time, I channelled my energy into building my own dessert catering business and running a non-profit community organisation. It was through these experiences that I discovered my passion for being at the heart of the action. Seeing projects through from start to finish, with tangible results, made it clear to me: my next step had to be in the world of work.

With little guidance around me, I threw myself into the application process. I spent hours studying company websites and social media pages, completing countless psychometric tests, and preparing rigorously for assessment centres. It wasn’t easy, and at times, it felt like being stuck in the Mondelez International Internal confectionery aisle—one safe and familiar choice, university, waiting for me, while I was taking a bold leap toward something unconventional.

Ultimately, that leap paid off. I landed my dream apprenticeship at Mondelez! It was a major step outside the comfort zone of a traditional route, but that same determination has carried me through every challenge of my apprenticeship journey.

I have been fortunate enough to work on projects across iconic brands like Cadburys, Oreo, Trebor and Halls. Alongside this, I’ve had the privilege of leading the Mondelez Early Careers Network and sharing my insights in senior leadership forums—a chance to amplify the voices of young professionals like me.

Most recently, I was honoured to receive the “Apprentice of the Year” award at the multicultural apprenticeship awards. This incredible recognition has left me feeling deeply grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and immensely proud that I persevered, even during my lowest moments.

If there’s one takeaway from my journey, it's this: it’s never too late to turn things around. No matter how far along your path you think you are, take a moment to think differently, to explore the opportunities that might seem unconventional. Those of us willing to take risks, to reach for that slightly quirky chocolate bar and step beyond our comfort zones, are the ones who drive meaningful change and growth, not just for ourselves, but for society as a whole.

My Top Tip: Don’t Let Perfectionism Cripple You!

Like many people, being a serial perfectionist and somewhat of a high achiever means that insecurity has always been a familiar friend of mine, or more bluntly, an unwelcome enemy. Something about chronically chasing after this idea of "perfectionism" has always left me feeling inadequate. Nevertheless, the feelings of inadequacy are very rarely overridden, and often the root of this is that hidden concern about perception—the annoying voice that tells you that you will "make yourself look like an idiot" or "you don't have adequate experience."

Don’t let doubt hold you back. Even if things aren’t perfect or you feel like you’re not quite the right fit, go for it anyway. Take every opportunity that comes your way—you never know where it might lead and at the very least, you’ll walk away with no regrets.

 

Aaminah Ahmed

Degree Apprentice at Mondelēz International | Director at Help The World Oxford | Development Lead at Ace Insights

You can find out more and connect with Aaminah on LinkedIn.