Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Layth Shamson and I am formerly a pupil at Willows High School. After passing my GCSEs, I successfully completed a Level 2 Science Diploma in Cardiff and the Vale College last year. This year, I am completing the Level 3 with the hope of going to university to study Science in the upcoming years. My dream is to be either a pharmacist or a teacher in the future.

Was there something you were facing that you asked your mentor to help you with?

In the Summer of 2022, my mother sadly passed away after a long battle with illness. Up until then, I had lived with and cared for my mother with my older brother, who continues to look after me and provide for me today.

How did your mentor help you on your journey?

Steve was extremely busy at work, and often travelling on business trips, but the fact that he always made time to meet with me and was dedicated to helping me made me feel honoured that someone cared to give up their time for me. It was great to speak to someone who took a different route into a successful career. Steve continually reassured me that, although important, GCSEs weren’t the be all and end all for someone achieving their dreams. He constantly boosted my confidence and said that hard work would pay off in the end. From both Steve and my own brother, I have been instilled with this strong work ethic, and this has helped me persevere to this point today.

What do you feel is the best thing that’s changed for you because of mentoring?

The key notion that I took away from Steve was how important it was to plan ahead. Steve taught me to plan ahead for revision for GCSEs for example and I use many of these strategies now I am at college and will continue to do so. He showed me that this gets you where you want to be and it had been an effective strategy so far. As part of my college Welsh Baccalaureate, I have recently returned to Willows High School but this time in the capacity as a mentor for younger pupils. Inspired by Steve, I chose to do my 15 hours compulsory work experience helping pupils. I have used my language skills in Arabic to help some of the asylum seekers and refugees improve their literacy. I also hope that some of the positivity and work ethic that Steve instilled in me will rub off on them.