Showcase Magazine Summer 2026 - Flipbook - Page 23
PERSONAL STORIES
Nicole’s Apprenticeship
Journey with Autism and ADHD
About Me: My name is Nicole, and I am a 19-year-old nursery apprentice who is passionate about supporting
young children as they learn, explore, and grow. As someone with autism and ADHD, I bring a unique way of
thinking to my work. This helps me connect with children creatively, with patience, and with a genuine
understanding of how differently each child experiences the world. I’m still developing my confidence and skills,
but I’m proud of the progress I’ve made and the positive relationships I’m building within the nursery. Every day
gives me a new opportunity to learn, listen, and show what I’m capable of. This article is about the challenges I
faced before I started my apprenticeship, and the support, guidance, and personal growth that have helped me
become the apprentice I am today.
During primary and secondary school, I never received the support I needed. I was always seen as the angry, stubborn, or
naughty child, but that was never the case. I felt misunderstood, as though no one wanted to help me because of the way I
acted or because simple things took me longer to understand. In secondary school, I struggled to focus during lessons, one
moment I would be concentrating, and the next I would be completely distracted, eventually giving up.
I was not diagnosed until I was 16, after leaving school, which meant I went through my education without the support I
actually needed. By the time I reached my GCSEs, everything felt overwhelming, my mind would go blank in every exam, and I
became anxious and frustrated with myself because I could not understand why I found things so much harder than everyone
else. After leaving school, I struggled a lot with my mental health. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my future, especially
after being kicked out of college and spending most days at home. Eventually, I became tired of doing nothing and started
thinking about what I genuinely enjoyed. I knew I loved helping people, and I had always enjoyed looking after children, so
childcare felt like the right path way. I wanted to support, protect, and help children develop, but I didn’t have my GCSEs, so I
applied for an apprenticeship to give myself a fresh start.
When I got the role as a nursery apprentice, I was excited. But as soon as I received my first bit of coursework, it felt like I was
back at school. I struggled to keep up, became lazy with my work, and wasn’t in the right environment or headspace. A lot was
happening in my personal life, andI didn’t focus on the important things. Eventually, I was re-enrolled onto my apprenticeship
because I had fallen too far behind. I knew I needed to find things that made me happy and motivated so I could stay on track.
At the start of my new enrolment, my new tutor encouraged and supported me so much, but I was still very behind and
struggling to keep up. I found it hard to open up about what was happening outside of work and how I was feeling, which left
me stuck and believing no one could help.
When I realised just how far behind I was, I knew I had to try my hardest to catch up. Around this time, I started surrounding
myself with the right people, people who wanted to help and support me. They understood what I was struggling with and
supported me through it. I began to feel like myself again. I felt happy, more confident, and I started taking my work seriously. I
became proud of myself for every piece of work I completed.
How I am being supported now: I am now receiving support in my apprenticeship that helps me. My tutor has been
understanding and patient in putting adjustments in place that make my workload feel more manageable. We meet every
two weeks instead of monthly, which gives me regular check‑ins and prevents me from becoming overwhelmed. I also use an
overlay to support my reading and concentration, which has made written tasks feel more accessible. Having this support in
place helps me stay organised, reduces stress, and allows me to stay engaged in my learning in a way that feels sustainable
for me. Getting the right support has made a huge difference for me. It’s helped me feel more confident, more understood, and
more able to manage challenges that used to feel overwhelming. Having people who actually listen and guide me in the right
way has allowed me to grow, build on my strengths, and believe in what I can achieve. It’s shown me that with the right help, I
can move forward and feel more in control of my own life.
｜
Showcase Training 23
